Ferruginous Pygmy-owl - Glaucidium brasilianum

Ferruginous Pygmy-owl Glaucidium brasilianum

Brazilian name: caburé

Brazil

The Ferruginous Pygmy-owl is distributed from Mexico through Central and South America as far as northern Argentina. It is found in a wide variety of habitats from primary forest to coastal scrub

Apart from the normal colouring, it has two different colour morphs: greyish-brown (as in photo 1) and rufous. It has two large spots or "false eyes" on the back of its neck (as in photo 3). This may confuse both prey and predators. Its underparts are white with broad brown or rufous streaks although there is wide variation in this streaking.

It is active both day and night and is often mobbed by small birds. It flicks its tail when agitated.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 5, Pages 126 and 214.

There are recordings and a distribution map on xeno-canto while there is additional information on Avibase .

Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Camacă, Bahia, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page. ?>