Eurasian Pygmy Owl Vocalization? (1 Viewer)

[deane]

Hi Folks, i've been told that a vocalization i have posted on my website at http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Glaucidium&species=passerinum is in fact NOT Glaucidium passerinum, but a male Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata. Now, i do have a recording for Ninox scutulata at http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Ninox&species=scutulata, but it doesn't sound the same.

Is anyone familiar with the calls of either/both of these species? 'cause i'm completely confused now :-/

Thanks for any help anyone can provide...

 

[hannu]

Deane,

Voice of Eurasian Pygmy Owl : middle high flute-type whistle " ,pjyyyyp-pjyyyyp-pjyyyyp", appr. 2-3 seconds long.
Reminds a lot to the voice of the bullfinch, but longer.
You also should remember that there can be many vocalisations in the same owl species and even the vocalication between male and female can differ each other very often.

 

[lou salomon]

hi deane,

short example of eur. pygmy owl, singing male:

http://www.scricciolo.com/eurosongs/Glaucidium.passerinum.wav

in duettsong female sounds deeper pitched
there are some more vocalizations like a scale-like whistle given esp. in autumn.

sorry, i don't know the owl in your example, but they're not glaucidium passerinum; actually in your first link a very strange sound came out with my realplayer.

reg,

 

[hannu]

Deane,
would you kindly tell us, where and when you have made these recordings?

 

[deane]

Thanks for your replies.
lou - the strange sounds in the first call are from the noise reduction filter that the recordist used. i did not record the calls, the file details are beside the actual calls on the pages that i provided.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Hannu,

Could I ask you, based on your experience, when have you found Pygmy Owls most vocal? One was in a forested town park here in Vilnius a week or so back and though I went several times at night never heard it call, nor did it respond to tapes. Now I think perhaps I went too late - I went once already well dark ...would dawn and dusk be better?

 

[hannu]

Hannu,

Could I ask you, based on your experience, when have you found Pygmy Owls most vocal? One was in a forested town park here in Vilnius a week or so back and though I went several times at night never heard it call, nor did it respond to tapes. Now I think perhaps I went too late - I went once already well dark ...would dawn and dusk be better?

Best time to hear Pygmy Owls is during 1 hour before the sunset and many times also in the sunrise. Best period is from end of January to end of March here in Finland. Some times it call even in the daytime. So Pygmy is more active to voice in daytime. I have never heard Pygmy in the dark, but it can also voice in dark, but usually before the sunrise! We hear normally Tengmalm's Owls in dark time (after 6-7 pm), but I have heard it once also in the daytime, but the phenomenon is quite rare in that species.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Intersting, many thanks. It means I spent some rather cold nights out for nothing! Will try again ...at better times!

Concerning Tengmalm's, I have found them this year already - calling at about 11 p.m. On Saturday found a Long-eared Owl calling mid-morning.

 

[hannu]

Intersting, many thanks. It means I spent some rather cold nights out for nothing! Will try again ...at better times!

Concerning Tengmalm's, I have found them this year already - calling at about 11 p.m. On Saturday found a Long-eared Owl calling mid-morning.

Experience will save you from passion ornithology ! ;-D
Tengmalm's start their calling earlier, especially in good rodent years, many times
in 6-7 p.m (=means about 2 hours after sunset). This is quite general phenomenon here. But at least 8-9 p.m.

 

[Xenospiza]

Now I think perhaps I went too late - I went once already well dark ...would dawn and dusk be better?

I bet a Pygmy Owl calling after dark would be a ready snack for a Tawny Owl... They are quite smart not to call!

 

[hannu]

hi deane,

short example of eur. pygmy owl, singing male:

http://www.scricciolo.com/eurosongs/Glaucidium.passerinum.wav


reg,

Lou's example sounds a little bit hasty or hurried call than normally. But otherwise it sounds right. But Deane's owl is not EPO !

 

[deane]

thanks again guys... i think there is enough doubt now, and have removed the call from the page.

Lou, thanks for the example from scricciolo.com - do you know Alberto Masi?