| Amazonian pygmy owl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Peru | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Glaucidium |
| Species: | G. hardyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Glaucidium hardyi Vielliard, 1989 | |
 | |
| Distribution of the Amazonian pygmy owl Resident | |
The Amazonian pygmy owl (Glaucidium hardyi), also known as Hardy's pygmy owl, is an owl found in northern South America and the Amazon Basin. A member of the Strigidae family, it is a true owl.
The Amazonian pygmy owl is a member of the Strigidae family, the true owls. It is in the genus Glaucidium , the pygmy owls, which are widely distributed across the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia. [3] Until 1989, the Amazonian pygmy owl was not considered distinct from the least pygmy owl (Glaucidium minutissimum). New research suggested that the Amazonian pygmy owl was distinct, restricting the least pygmy owl to Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil. [4] The holotype for the species is located at the Department of Zoology at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. Phylogenetic studies on Glaucidium have been limited, but some analyses suggest that the Amazonian pygmy owl is closely related to the Andean pygmy owl (Glaucidium jardinii) and the Yungas pygmy owl (Glaucidium bolivianum). [5]
The Amazonian pygmy owl is very small, which is indicated by its name "glaucidium", meaning little owl. Adults have a large round head that is spotted with black marks, falsely looking like eyes. Their crown is a gray-brown color, spotted with very small white dots. Rectrices and remidges are both dark brown with three irregular bars of large white spots. They have white underparts with broad brown or rufous brown streaks. They measure 14–15 cm in length, adults typically weigh approximately 60 g. There is no observed sexual dimorphism in adults, meaning that males and females look identical. Juveniles appear similar to adults, but with an unspotted crown, and with less distinct streaking on underparts. They have bright golden yellow irises, a greenish yellow bill, and a pale yellow cere. They have talons in a zygodactyl arrangement. [6]
The main call of the Amazonian pygmy owl consists of repeated, short, high-pitched tweets.
The Amazonian pygmy owl occurs in the central and southwestern areas of the Amazonia region. Its presence has been confirmed in northern Bolivia, [7] in Peru both in the Amazon and north of the Amazon, [8] and extending east to eastern Venezuela, [9] Guyana, [10] Suriname, [11] and French Guiana. [12]
The habitat for the Amazonian pygmy owl is the canopy and subcanopy of tall, humid, tropical evergreen forests. They have been observed at elevations ranging from the lowlands to above 1100 meters. [13]
Very little information exists on the diet of these birds. They presumably prey on large arthropods and small vertebrates. [6]
The species is diurnal, and individuals perch quietly in one place for long periods of time. As a result, sightings are rare even during the day. Existing observations suggest that they are socially monogamous. [6]
Only one nest has been documented in published literature, in French Guiana. The nest was situated in a used woodpecker hole, and two adults were present. One adult stayed near the nest at all times. Each adult only left for short periods of time to forage, under 15 minutes. This suggests a high level of parental care. A large cicada and a small unidentified bird were both brought back to the nest and fed to the young. The adults were seen panting with half-open beaks during the hottest hours of the day and frequently sang a soft, descending, high-pitched trill of notes. [14]
The Amazonian pygmy owl is one of the most common predators in the northern Amazon basin. It is frequently the subject of mobbing behavior by its prey as a defense mechanism. [15]
The Amazonian pygmy owl is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large range. The IUCN also lists the population as decreasing. The population size has not been quantified. [16] Research has shown canopy loss and fragmentation in the Amazon basin due to selective logging. [17] As a canopy-dweller, the Amazonian pygmy owl is likely affected by these changes.
The pearl-spotted owlet is a small bird of prey found in sub-Saharan Africa. They belong to the Strigidae family, otherwise known as the typical owls or the true owls, which contains most species of owl. As part of the genus Glaucidium, or pygmy owls, they are commonly referred to as 'owlets' due to their diminutive size. Pearl-spotted owlets are brownish and heavily spotted white, with two distinct black false 'eyes' at the back of their head. They are often confused with an African barred owlet.
The ferruginous pygmy owl is a small owl that breeds in south-central Arizona and southern Texas in the United States, south through Mexico and Central America, to South America into Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.
The purple honeycreeper is a small Neotropical bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in the tropical New World from Colombia and Venezuela south to Brazil, and on Trinidad. A few, possibly introduced birds have been recorded on Tobago.
Pygmy owls are members of the genus Glaucidium. They belong to the typical owl family, Strigidae. The genus consists of 29 species distributed worldwide. These are mostly small owls, and some of the species are called "owlets". The genus includes nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular species. Birds in this genus mainly hunt large insects and other small prey.
The Yungas pygmy owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
The Asian Barred Owlet also known as the Cuckoo owlet is a species of pygmy owl native to the forests and shrublands of mainland Southeast Asia to the foothills of the Himalayas of northern Pakistan. It is a smaller owl, measuring 22–25 cm (8.7–9.8 in) making it one of the larger pygmy owls. They are primarily insectivorous but will eat lizards, small rodents and birds as well.
The Central American pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
The Andean pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The East Brazilian pygmy owl, also known as least pygmy-owl or Sick's pygmy-owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family.
The austral pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile.
The cloud-forest pygmy owl or cloudforest pygmy owl is a short, muscular, small-sized species of owl found throughout the Andes of western Colombia and north-western Ecuador, being confined to cloud forests between 900–2000 m a.s.l. Below this altitudinal range the Central American pygmy owl occurs; above it, the Andean pygmy owl occurs.
The Colima pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the western part of Mexico.
The subtropical pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Pacific pygmy owl or Peruvian pygmy owl is a small "typical owl" in subfamily Surniinae. It is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Tamaulipas pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to Mexico. This is one of the smallest owls in the world, with a mean length of 13.5 cm (5.3 in). However, at 53 g (1.9 oz), it is slightly heavier than the long-whiskered owlet and the elf owl. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Cuban pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is endemic to Cuba.
The crested owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is the only species (monotypic) in the genus Lophostrix. It is a resident bird and occurs in Central America and northern South America. It is a medium-sized owl, easily recognizable with its very long whitish ear tufts and otherwise darker appearance. It inhabits lowland rainforests and prefers old growth in proximity with water. The crested owl is a strictly nocturnal species, but very little is known about its behaviour.
The rufous-rumped foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname.
The Pernambuco pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. This species, first described in 2002, is endemic to Pernambuco state in Brazil.
The mountain pygmy owl or northern pygmy owl is a small species of owl from the family Strigidae. They reside throughout southern Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)