Subtropical pygmy owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Subtropical pygmy owl |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Glaucidium
|
| Species: |
parkeri
|
 |
|
| Distribution of subtropical pygmy owl Resident | |
The subtropical pygmy owl (scientific name: Glaucidium parkeri) is a small type of owl. It belongs to the Strigidae family, which includes many well-known owls. You can find this owl in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in South America.
Contents
Naming the Owl
This owl's scientific name, Glaucidium parkeri, honors a famous bird expert named Theodore A. (Ted) Parker III. He spent over 20 years learning about birds in Central and South America and shared his knowledge with everyone. This owl is also monotypic, which means it's the only species in its group.
What Does It Look Like?
The subtropical pygmy owl is quite small, about 14 to 14.5 centimeters (5.5 to 5.7 inches) long. It weighs around 61.6 grams (2.17 ounces), which is about the weight of a small apple.
Most of these owls are brown. Their head is grayish-brown with clear white spots on top and on the sides of their face. Like many pygmy owls, they have black "false eyes" on the back of their neck. These spots look like eyes and might help scare away predators.
The owl's back and rump are dark brown. Its tail is blackish with white bands that look like spots. The underside of the owl is white with wide, dull reddish-olive brown stripes. Young owls' feathers have not been described yet.
Where Does It Live?
The subtropical pygmy owl lives on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. You can find it from the very southwest part of Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, all the way to central Bolivia.
It lives at different heights depending on the country. In Ecuador, it lives between 1,100 and 2,000 meters (3,600 to 6,600 feet) above sea level. In Peru, it's found between 950 and 1,600 meters (3,100 to 5,200 feet). In Bolivia, it lives between 600 and 1,600 meters (2,000 to 5,200 feet). This owl prefers to live in humid montane forest, which are forests found in mountainous areas.
Behavior
What Does It Eat?
The subtropical pygmy owl is active both during the day and at night. Scientists don't have much information about what it eats. However, they believe it mostly eats large arthropods, like insects and spiders. It probably also eats small animals with backbones, such as tiny mammals or birds.
Reproduction
Not much is known about how the subtropical pygmy owl raises its young. It is thought that they build their nests in holes in trees. These holes might be old ones made by woodpeckers.
What Does It Sound Like?
The song of the subtropical pygmy owl is quite unique. It makes three or four short sounds, usually in groups of two to four or six. These sounds are low-toned and get louder at the end. It often sounds like "hu-hu, hu," with a short pause before the last sound.
How Is Its Population Doing?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the subtropical pygmy owl's population. They have listed it as a species of Least Concern. This means that its population is not currently in danger. The exact number of these owls is not known, but experts believe their population is stable.
