Costa Rican Pygmy Owl - BirdForum Opus

Glaucidium costaricanum

Photo by Greg Lavaty
Irazu volcano, Costa Rica, January 2009

Identification

15 cm. Brown and rufous morphs; brown most common

• Dark rufous brown-buff breast with white spots
• Black eyespot
• White hindneck
• White, black streaked abdomen
• White eyebrows
• White lores
• Yellow feet, bill, cere and iris

Rufous morph
Photo by Birdingcraft
Irazu volcano, Costa Rica, September 2008

Distribution

Central America: found in the mountains of Costa Rica to western Panama. May also be found in eastern Panama highlands?

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1], which was previously considered to belong under Andean Pygmy Owl.

Habitat

Higher elevation, temperate rain forest, usually above 900 m asl.

Behaviour

Partly active during day.

Breeding

It nests in tree cavities. The clutch consists of 3 eggs.

Diet

The diet includes small vertebrates, lizards and insects.

Vocalisation

Call: pairs of toots.

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. Owling.com
3. König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Costa Rican Pygmy Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Costa_Rican_Pygmy_Owl

External Links

Search for photos of Costa Rican Pygmy Owl in the gallery