# Northern Pygmy-Owl (*Glaucidium gnoma*) The Northern Pygmy-Owl is a tiny owl that loves to hide in trees. It has big yellow eyes and a cute round face, making it look very friendly! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Pygmy-Owl](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/GlaucidiumGnomaKeulemans.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GlaucidiumGnomaKeulemans.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Pygmy-Owl is a small, compact owl with a round head and no ear tufts. It has a brownish-grey body speckled with white, a whitish belly streaked with dark brown, and distinctive yellow eyes. Two prominent black spots on the back of its neck, outlined in white, mimic false eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Glaucidium ## Interesting facts - Black spots on its neck look like extra eyes to trick predators! - Despite its small size, it can catch prey bigger than itself! - It often hunts during the day, which is unusual for an owl! - Its call is a series of simple, high-pitched 'hoo-hoo-hoo' whistles! ## Special abilities - **Deceptive False Eyes:** Northern Pygmy-Owl has two black spots on its neck that look like extra eyes, helping them deter predators from attacking from behind. - **Daylight Hunter:** Northern Pygmy-Owl can hunt actively during the day, which is unusual for an owl, helping them find prey when other owls are resting. - **Mighty Talons:** Northern Pygmy-Owl has strong, sharp talons for its small size, which helps them capture prey even larger than themselves. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-18 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-38 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.077 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-7 - **Incubation:** 28-31 days ## Diet & Feeding A tiny but fierce hunter, it mostly eats small birds, mammals, and large insects. - **Primary Foods:** Small birds, Mice, Voles, Shrews, Large insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — A common small mammal prey item. - **Hunts:** [Black-capped Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-capped-chickadee) (*Poecile atricapillus*) — A frequently targeted small bird. - **Eaten by:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — Jays often mob owls, but owls may eat their young. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Larger owls are potential predators. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch owls from a distance and don’t try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Pygmy-Owl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Pygmy-Owl? 15-18 cm ### What is Northern Pygmy-Owl's wingspan? 30-38 cm ### How much does Northern Pygmy-Owl weigh? 0.05-0.077 kg ### How long does Northern Pygmy-Owl live? 7-10 years ### How fast can Northern Pygmy-Owl move? 40 km/h ### What does Northern Pygmy-Owl eat? A tiny but fierce hunter, it mostly eats small birds, mammals, and large insects. ### Where is Northern Pygmy-Owl usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Old Auburn Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-auburn-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Selleck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/selleck) — Washington, US · Historic District ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Pygmy-Owl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pygmy-owl)