Northern Pygmy-Owl Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesNorthern Pygmy-Owl
Small and compact, with a large, circular head without ear tufts. Brown overall with fine white speckles on the head and white spots on the back. Note yellow eyes and bill.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 17, 2020Individuals along the wet Pacific slope are darker brown overall and give slower single toots.
© Eric Heisey / Macaulay LibraryWashington, January 28, 2017Reddish color morphs are rusty-colored throughout with a spotted crown.
© Herb Elliott / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 03, 2019Small, compact owl with a round head and no ear tufts. Plumage varies from gray brown to brown to reddish, with darker individuals along the wet Pacific slope.
© Jerry McFetridge / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, October 22, 2019Individuals in the interior tend to be more gray brown and often gives toots in pairs. Note tiny white spots on crown and narrowly striped tail.
© Mike Hearell / Macaulay LibraryUtah, January 29, 2016Small owl with a round head. Brown overall with white spots on the back and two spots on the back of the head that look like eyes.
© Peter Olsoy / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 31, 2017© William Orellana (Beaks and Peaks) / Macaulay LibraryWashington, February 05, 2021
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© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 20, 2017
Found in montane forests of western North America. Look for them in towns, especially during winter when they move to lower elevations.
© Angel Poe / Macaulay LibraryUtah, January 29, 2017Similar SpeciesBoreal Owl
Adult
Boreal Owls are larger and have shorter tails than Northern Pygmy-Owls. They also tend to live at higher elevations or farther north than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryBayern, May 08, 2010Similar SpeciesFlammulated Owl
Gray morph
Flammulated Owls have dark eyes while Northern Pygmy-Owls have yellow eyes. They also have shorter tails and more barring on the breast than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Tim Avery / Macaulay LibraryUtah, June 30, 2016Similar SpeciesNorthern Saw-whet Owl
Adult
Northern Saw-whet Owls have shorter tails and paler faces than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Cameron Rutt / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 27, 2013Similar SpeciesWestern Screech-Owl
Adult
Western Screech-Owls have ear tufts that Northern Pygmy-Owls do not have and they have more barring on the breast.
© Ryan O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 02, 2017Similar SpeciesFerruginous Pygmy-Owl
Adult
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls look very similar, but they live in extreme southern Arizona and Texas (and south to Argentina). They tend to be brighter reddish-brown than Northern Pygmy-Owls, except for rufous morph individuals.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuintana Roo, January 14, 2014Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae)
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