Glaucidium palmarum
The Colima Pygmy Owl (*Glaucidium palmarum*) is a diminutive yet fierce raptor, typically measuring 13-17 cm (5.1-6.7 inches) in length with a wingspan of approximately 30 cm (12 inches) and weighing around 45-65 grams (1.6-2.3 ounces). This small owl is characterized by its compact, rounded body, short tail, and relatively large, earless head. Its plumage exhibits two primary morphs: a rufous-brown phase and a gray-brown phase, both featuring fine barring on the crown and back, with paler, s...
This species primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical dry forests, deciduous woodlands, thorn scrub, and semi-open pine-oak woodlands, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
Its diet is highly varied, consisting mainly of large insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and moths, supplemented by small vertebrates including lizards, small snakes, rodents, and small birds. It hunts primarily from a perch, ambushing prey.
The Colima Pygmy Owl is largely diurnal and crepuscular, often actively hunting during daylight hours, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, though it will also hunt at night. It typically roosts solitarily in dense foliage or tree cavities. Foraging involves a characteristic sit-an...
The Colima Pygmy Owl is endemic to western and southwestern Mexico, where it is a year-round resident. Its primary breeding and resident range extends from southern Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua south through Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. There are also p...
Least Concern
- Despite its small size, the Colima Pygmy Owl is a formidable predator capable of taking prey as large as itself, including small birds and rodents. - It possesses "false eyes" or ocelli on the back of its head, dark spots bordered by white, which are thought to deter predators by making them ap...