Costa Rican Pygmy-owl
Encyclopedia
The Costa Rican Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum) is a species of owl
in the Strigidae family.
It is found in Costa Rica
and Panama
.
and western Panama
. This species prefers canopy
and edges of highland forests and adjacent habitat. Sometimes even enters pastures and plains with scattered trees.
s, 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.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
in the Strigidae family.
It is found in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
Range and Habitat
The Costa Rican Pygmy Owl is found in the mountains of Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and western Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. This species prefers canopy
Canopy
Canopy may refer to:*Aircraft canopy, transparent enclosure over aircraft cockpit*Baldachin, cloth or permanent architectural feature that hangs over altar or throne as symbol of authority...
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 OwlPygmy owl
Pygmy Owls are members of the genus Glaucidium. They belong to the typical owl family Strigidae, one of the two generally accepted living families of owls....
s, 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.