Amazon pygmy owl
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Amazon pygmy owl ( Glaucidium hardyi ) |
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| Vielliard , 1989 |
The Amazon pygmy owl ( Glaucidium hardyi ) is a small species of pygmy owl . The species occurs only in South America. It was not scientifically described until 1989.
Appearance
The Amazon pygmy owl reaches a body size of around 14 to 15 centimeters. Feather ears are absent, the tail is relatively short, while the wings are long, but have a rounded tip. The top of the head and the neck are noticeably grayer than the brown coat and back. The upper wing coverts, however, are slightly pale spotted. There are a number of small whitish spots on the top of the head. In the nape of the neck it shows a striking occipital face . The underside of the body is whitish with reddish brown vertical stripes. The sides of the chest are mottled reddish-brown. The eyes are bright yellow.
In the distribution area of the Amazon pygmy owl, there are several other pygmy owl species with which it can be confused. The Brazilian pygmy owl is significantly larger with a longer tail. The smallest pygmy owl has a brown, not gray head and is less spotted on the top of the head. The screeching owls in the distribution area are significantly larger and all have spring ears.
Distribution area and habitat
The distribution area of the Amazon pygmy owl is the Amazon area in South America. It occurs from Venezuela over the two Guayanas to the north of Brazil as well as the east of Ecuador, Peru and the northeast of Bolivia. It is a resident bird that predominantly colonizes the primary rainforests of the Amazon. Its height distribution extends up to 850 meters above sea level. It lives mainly in the treetops, where the branches are richly overgrown with epiphytes.
Way of life
Like many other American pygmy owl species, the Amazon pygmy owl is active part-day. Its food spectrum consists mainly of insects. Presumably, however, it also beats tree-dwelling mammals as well as birds and lizards. The reproductive biology of this species has not yet been conclusively investigated.
supporting documents
Single receipts
- ↑ König et al., P. 407
literature
- Claus König , Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
Web links
- Glaucidium hardyi inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2013.