Baja pygmy owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baja pygmy owl |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Glaucidium
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| Species: |
hoskinsii
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| Distribution of Baja pygmy owl Resident | |
| Synonyms | |
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Glaucidium gnoma hoskinsii |
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The Baja pygmy owl (Glaucidium hoskinsii), also called the cape pygmy owl, is a small owl. It lives only in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Some scientists think it's its own unique species. Others believe it's a type of northern pygmy owl.
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What Kind of Owl Is It?
Scientists sometimes disagree on how to classify animals. The Baja pygmy owl is a good example. Some groups, like the International Ornithologists' Union, say it's a separate species. This means they see it as a unique type of owl.
However, other groups, like the American Ornithological Society, think it's a subspecies. They believe it's a specific kind of northern pygmy owl. DNA evidence suggests these two owls might not be very closely related.
Where Did Its Name Come From?
The scientific name hoskinsii honors a person named Francis Hoskins. He helped an bird scientist named Marston Abbott Frazar. Frazar was paid by a businessman, George Burritt Sennett, to collect birds in the 1880s. The very first Baja pygmy owl ever found was collected during one of Frazar's trips.
What Does It Look Like?
This little owl is about 15 to 17 cm (6 to 7 inches) long. It weighs about 50 to 65 grams (1.8 to 2.3 oz). Its feathers are a sandy gray-brown color. Female owls often have a bit more reddish color than males.
The owl's head and back have many light spots. These spots are largest on its shoulder feathers. Its tail is long for an owl. It has five or six light-colored stripes across it. The owl's belly is off-white with brown streaks.
Like other pygmy owls, it has bright yellow eyes and a yellow beak. It also has two black triangles on the back of its neck. These triangles are outlined in white and look like extra eyes.
What Does It Sound Like?
The Baja pygmy owl has a special call. It sounds different from other pygmy owls in the area. Its common call is a "hoo hoo" sound. This sound lasts about two seconds. There are usually five to fifteen seconds between each "hoo hoo." Sometimes, it starts hooting with up to five hoots in a row. It might also make a quick, shaky "huhuhu…" sound before it starts hooting.
Where Does It Live?
The cape pygmy owl lives only in Baja California Sur. This means it is native to this area and found nowhere else. You can find it from the Sierra de la Laguna to the Sierra de la Giganta. It is quite common in the Sierra de la Laguna area.
It lives in pine forests and pine-oak forests. These forests are usually found at high altitudes. They are between 1500 to 2100 meters (5000–7000 ft.) high. In the winter, these owls might fly down to lower areas. They can be found as low as 500 meters (1,640 ft.).
