Credit: Guy Monty
North American field guide
Northern Pygmy-owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Also known as:Mountain Pygmy-owl
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Identification
Field notes
17 cm (7") Fairly common. Western owl. Coniferous and deciduous woods, foothills, mountains.
Small earless owl. Long barred tail. Sides are sharply streaked. Dark patches behind neck form an eye pattern.
May be active during the day.
Frequently mobbed by song birds.
Song: whistled "hoo hoo".
Watch and learn
Videos
Northern Pygmy Owl
Credit: Kootenay Nature PhotosNorthern Pygmy Owl showing false eyes by ktbirding.com
Credit: Khanh TranBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
2 rulesRule 1 8 criteria · confidence 4
- Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?
- No · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 2 8 criteria · confidence 4
- Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?
- No · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northwestern Canada or United States