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Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Mark Harper
Tandayapa, Ecuador, May 2007
Glaucidium nubicola

Identification

16 cm

  • Dark brown back, scapulars, upperwing-coverts
  • White spotted rump
  • White spotted band on primaries and secondaries
  • Black, white banded tail
  • White chin, sides of throat and upper breast
  • Rufous brown sides of breast
  • White spotted breast
  • Streaked lower underparts
  • Yellow iris
  • Greenish-yellow bill
  • Yellow legs.

Distribution

South America: found on the Pacific slope of the Western Andes in Colombia and Ecuador.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Humid, primary cloud-forest, 1,400-2,000m.

Behaviour

Diurnal and crepuscular, leading to this owl often being mobbed by smaller birds.

Vocalizations

Song activity recorded in April and June (more study needed). Song consists of hollow whistles, usually delivered in units (couplets) of 2 (rarely 3), and with many such couplets delivered in one song.

Diet

The diet includes invertebrates, insects, small vertebrates, lizards and possibly birds.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Avibase
  3. BirdLife International
  4. König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2

Recommended Citation

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