Long-whiskered owlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-whiskered owlet |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Xenoglaux
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| Species: |
loweryi
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The long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) is a very small owl. It lives only in a tiny part of the Andean mountains. You can find it in northern Peru, in the areas of Amazonas and San Martín. This special owl lives in cloud forests. These are forests high up in the mountains, often covered in clouds. They have lots of dense plants and epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants). The owlet lives at heights of about 1,890 to 2,200 meters above sea level.
Contents
What Does the Long-Whiskered Owlet Look Like?
This owlet is mostly brown. It has a whitish belly and a white stripe above its eyes, like an eyebrow. Its large eyes are orange-brown. Even though it doesn't have ear tufts (feathers that look like ears), its facial feathers are very long. They stick out past its head, making it look like it has long whiskers.
The name of its genus Xenoglaux means "strange owl." This name refers to its unique long facial feathers. The long-whiskered owlet is one of the smallest owls in the world. It is only about 13 to 14 centimeters long. It weighs around 47.5 grams, which is about the same as a few strawberries. Only the elf owl is lighter, and the Tamaulipas pygmy owl is similar in size. Scientists believe it mainly eats insects.
Where Does This Owl Live?
Not much is known about the long-whiskered owlet. It was first found in 1976. Researchers caught it three times using special nets called mist nets. For a long time, no one saw it in the wild.
Then, in early 2007, rangers and researchers saw it three times during the day. They also recorded its calls at night. This happened in a protected area called Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva. Since then, it has been seen more often in that area. It was also discovered in a place called La Esperanza in January 2010. This area is also home to the critically endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey.
Why Is This Owl Endangered?
The long-whiskered owlet is very rare. It lives in a very specific type of forest. Sadly, its habitat is shrinking because of deforestation (when forests are cut down). Because of this, BirdLife International considers it an endangered species.
Experts think there are only about 250 to 1,000 long-whiskered owlets left. Luckily, some areas are now protected. The Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva conservation area and the Copallín conservation area help protect this owl. They also protect other rare birds that live in the same region. These include the Johnson's tody-tyrant, the royal sunangel, and the ochre-fronted antpitta.
In La Esperanza, local communities are creating their own conservation area. They are also developing tourism to help protect the owlet and other local species.
Owl Family Tree
A scientific study in 2019 looked at the DNA of many owls. This study found that the long-whiskered owlet is a "sister species" to the North American elf owl. This means they are very closely related in the owl family tree.
See also
In Spanish: Mochuelo peludo para niños
