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- Glaucidium passerinum
Identification
The smallest European owl, with males only weighing 50 - 65 grams. A tiny, small-headed owl which often perches at the top of trees.
Distribution
Boreal forests of Scandinavia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, northwest and central Russia across to Siberia, including Sakhalin and some parts of northeastern China. Also occuring in mountains of central and eastern Europe, particulary in the Alps (France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Slovenja), the Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia, Romania) and the Ore mountains (Germany, Chzech Republic).
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized, Glaucidium passerinum passerinum in the western part of the range and Glaucidium passerinum orientale in the eastern part. They intergrade in western Siberia and the Altai Mountains.
The Eurasian Pgymy-Owl is sometimes considered to form a superspecies with the Collared Owlet, the Pearl-spotted Owlet, the Northern Pygmy Owl and the Mountain Pygmy Owl. However, new DNA evidence denies a close relation to the Northern Pygmy Owl of North America.
Habitat
Behaviour
It can be a fearsome hunter and will tackle larger birds, such as starlings.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Glaucidium passerinum (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
