Costa Rica has 3 resident species of pygmy-owls, all of the genus Glaucidium. They are active both day and night. The subject of today’s post, the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum), is the commonest of the three and I have reported it on previous occasions when excellent photographs were taken by John Beer (consult this species under earlier posts). However, these most recent sightings were made by John and Milena’s son Sean at their home patch, where an unfortunate Golden-hooded Tanager – a common but beautiful songbird found in lowlands and middle elevations on both coasts – fell prey to the pair pictured below. Sean’s first shot shows a single Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl:

The overall plumage of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls can vary from brown to rufous. The uncommon Caribbean lowland Central American Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps) can also appear in the Turrialba area, but as its scientific name indicates, the crown is grey with white dots. In the next image the first pygmy-owl is now joined by a second individual, perhaps its mate:

Identification of pygmy-Owls can present difficulties. However, the highland Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum) is generally found at higher elevations in our area. It has both brown and rufous morphs and its call note is very different from that of the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Sean took these photos in daylight in a wooded environment, no mean feat. They portray a unique example of the hunting capabilities of these tiny raptors. Their long-distance vision is impressive but they are actually short-sighted and must ‘feel’ their prey after capturing it by using what are termed filoplumes, hair-like feathers on their bill and feet.