Birds of Costa Rica

    STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae (Owls)  
Genus: Glaucidium (3 species, 29 worldwide)

Genus Glaucidium, Pygmy Owls, are tiny owls, around 15 cm., which can be active day or night. All Pygmy Owls are usually being mobbed by small birds and hummingbirds.


Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
Barquisimeto, Venezuela
  Brown morph.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum medianum)
Los Flamencos Wildlife Sanctuary, Camarones, La Guajira, Colombia
  Grey morph.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
Costa Rica
  Rufous morph
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

With different shades of brown, rufous and grey across its large range.

Costa Rican Pygmy Owl
Costa Rican Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum)
Costa Rica
  This may be an immature. Immatures of other Pygmy Owls are less spotted.
   
Photograph by Jorge Obando Gutierrez   © Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved.

Costa Rican Pygmy Owl
Costa Rican Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum)
Costa Rica  
   
Photograph by Jorge Obando Gutierrez   © Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved.

A small heavily spotted Pygmy Owl found at higher altitudes (over 1000m) than other Pygmy Owls. Crown spotted and not streaked as on Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

Central American Pygmy Owl
Central American Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps)
Laguna Lagarto Lodge, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica
  Note brown-grey head color vs. other Pygmy Owls.
   
Photograph by Jorge Obando Gutierrez   © Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved.



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