- Costa Rican Pygmy Owl
-
Costa Rican Pygmy Owl 
Savegre Lodge, near San Gerardo, Costa Rica Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Glaucidium Species: G. costaricanum Binomial name Glaucidium costaricanum
Robbins & Stiles, 1999The Costa Rican Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum) is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Contents
Range and Habitat
The Costa Rican Pygmy Owl is found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. This species prefers canopy and edges of highland forests and adjacent habitat. Sometimes even enters pastures and plains with scattered trees.
Habits and Voice
Costa Rican Pygmy Owls hunt from a low perch in dense forest. Waits for small prey, usually birds, lizards or large insects, and then strikes in swift flight. If target is missed, returns to perch rather than pursuing. Like other Pygmy Owls, swishes tail from side to side when agitated.
Calls mainly in early morning, late afternoon and at night with a long, slow song of randomly spaced, clear toots. Sometimes appears to come in groups of 2, sometimes sounds like it comes in groups of 3. When excited, gives a faster, higher series of 5 toots.
Nesting
Pairs nest in an old woodpecker hole in March. Lays 3 eggs.
Taxonomic Note
Recently split from Andean Pygmy Owl, Glaucidium jardanii.
References
- BirdLife International 2004. Glaucidium costaricanum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 July 2007.
This Owl-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
