Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A tiny, plump, long-tailed owl, smaller than an American Robin and other large thrushes. Its small size and long tail mean that it could be mistaken for a songbird at first glance. Like other pygmy-owls, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls lack ear tufts, contributing to a round-headed look.

  Relative Size

  Larger than an Elf Owl, smaller than a Western Screech-Owl.

  robin-sized

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 5.5-7.1 in (14-18 cm)
    • Weight: 1.9-2.8 oz (53-79 g)
    • Wingspan: 11.8 in (30 cm)

  © Frédérick Lelièvre / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls range from cinnamon to grayish-brown. Whitish underparts have thick streaks that often merge on the sides and top of the breast. These owls’ dark crown and face are interrupted by fine white streaking and bold white eyebrows. The long tail is barred with rufous and dark brown, or brown with white.

• Behavior

  Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are active during the day, especially near dawn and dusk. Their tooting song and conspicuous behaviors make them frequent targets of small mobbing birds. These owls capture birds, insects, reptiles, and small mammals by making short, rapid dives from perches. In flight, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls flap rapidly and noisily (by owl standards) in an undulating, woodpecker-like style.
• Habitat

  Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls occur in many different habitats, including rainforest, tropical dry forest, scrubby semiopen areas, savanna, coffee plantations, clearings, and suburban yards. This is an edge species, frequently seen at the border of two habitat types. They are primarily lowland birds, but they do occur up to 6,500 feet in some areas.