Aidan-Northern+Pygmy+Owl

Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium Californicum

The Northern Pygmy Owl is one of the most amaing sights you will see. Standing at 16.5-18.5 cm tall, it is one of the smallest owls.This miniature owl is most active between dawn and dusk. It has either a redish, brownish, or greyish upper body, with a light belly, streaked with black or brown. It's head and neck are sprinkled with white dots, making it a unique owl. This amazing animal has two black patches on it's neck to resemble extra eyes. This will scare some small enemys away. The owls tail is long and striped. It's creepy eyes are bright yellow, while it's toes are greyish yellow. The females grow to 18.5 cm, while the males can only grow to a mere 16.5 cm. This creature likes to perch at the highest point on a tree, and twitches when excited. Despite it's size, this animal is very fierce. When it feels threatened, it will puff out its chest to look larger, or suck in to try to look skinny.This owls primary call is a repetitive whistled hoots at intervals of 0.5-2 seconds.The male will give a high whinnying sound when bringing food to a mate, and the female will give more of a cackling sound. Both giva a high pitched trill when excited. The Northern Pygmy Owl is a "sit and wait" predator. It will eat the brains of other birds, and the abdomen of insects. This tiny owl can carry prey up to 3 times it's own wieght! It will also dine on small mammals, other birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It is unknown how long it lives. It lives in forests, meadows, fields, and wetlands in West North America. It is a truely amazing animal.