| Pygmy Owl | |
| |
| Names | |
| Common Name: | Pygmy Owl |
| Scientific Name: | Glaucidium gnoma OR Glaucidium califoricum |
| Appearance | |
| Very small owls, with vary shades of brown feathers, often speckled or dappled, with false "eyes" on the back of their head. | |
| Behavior | |
| Will take prey species the same size or larger than themselves. | |
Pygmy Owls (Glaucidium gnoma or Glaucidium californicum) are members of the genus Glaucidium of the family Strigidae. Pygmy Owls are quite small, with some species being called "owlets".
Information[]
Description[]
A Pygmy Owl has feathers of varied shades of brown. There are also few white feathers on them. They have a Yellow beak (or Brown), and bright yellow eyes. Their talons are yellow and hook-shaped. Depending on the species, they can be between 6-8 in (15-21 cm) with females being larger. Pygmy Owls are slightly bigger than Elf Owls. Both Male and Female Pygmy Owls' wingspans are the same, with the length of 38cm (15 in). The weight of a Male Pygmy Owl is 62g (2.2oz), while a Female Pygmy Owl's is 72g (2.6oz) The average lifespan of a Pygmy Owl is 7 years. A Pygmy Owl's hoot is very soft and light. It goes like hoot-hoot. The hoot sounds like a Flute's. The 'trill' of a Pygmy Owl's is very quick, and taking it in very short breaths, but then it resumes doing the normal hoot-hoot. The back of their neck has dark patches that look like eye spots to confuse predators and angry songbirds. Unlike most owls, they have a relatively noisy flight.
There is some dispute whether the Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium californicum) and the Mountain Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) should be considered separate species. Some classify them both as the same species, along with the Guatemalan Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium cobanense) and the Baja Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium hoskinsii).
Ecology[]
The habitat of a Pygmy Owl is usually found near edges of meadows, lakes, swamps, and other openings in the forest.
They are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), but are also in the daytime. They are not normally active at night.
The Northern Pygmy Owl is native to west North America, from Canada, through the United States, and into Mexico. The Eurasian Pygmy Owl (the smallest owl in Europe) is native to northern and central Europe, eastward to Siberia. The Mountain Pygmy Owl the southern United States and Mexico. The Pearl-Spotted Owlet is native throughout Africa south of the Sahara.
In the series, Pygmy Owls can be found throughout all kingdoms. Silverveil is one of those places, as Primrose had been hatched there. The Northern Kingdoms are another, as Fritha and her family are from there.
Diet[]
A Pygmy Owl's diet consists of small mammals, small to medium sized birds, reptiles, large insects and amphibians. It has evolved disproportionately large feet in order to carry larger vertebrate prey.
Pygmy Owls are 'sit-and-wait' predators. They hunt actively. They move perch to perch with short flights, capturing their prey. They swoop down on prey, and may even catch insects in the process. They eat small mammals, small to medium sized birds, and they may take a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates.
If they find extra food, they will often cache their prey in tree cavities, or hang it on thorns (similar to shrikes).
Breeding[]
It is unknown which months Pygmy Owl breeding happens, but the female can lay 2-7 eggs, but usually 4-6.
The female incubates the eggs, broods the young and guards the nest, while the male defends the territory of 250 hectares (about 1 sq. mi.) and hunts, giving food deliveries every 2 hours. The male must feed the mate, the young, and himself. The male hunts dawn to dusk as the young near fledging, and during the first couple of weeks after they leave the nest. Pygmy Owl nests can be found in hollow cacti, but their nests can also be found in trees. Known tree types are Douglas Fir, Western Redcedar, Western Hemlock and Red Alder. Despite their small size, they will drive off larger intruders.
Significant Pygmy Owls[]
History[]
The Journey[]
Primrose is rescued from a forest fire in Silverveil. Soren comforts her as she mourns the loss of an unhatched sibling she tried to save (but would have named Osgood). Later, during a navigation class, Soren is confused at first flying behind Primrose due to the eye spots on the back of her head. When Primrose apologizes, Strix Struma tells her to treasure her Glaux-given gift. Primrose is tapped for the Search-and-Rescue Chaw. She, Twilight, and Digger assist with rescuing the Tyto owls displaced due to The Great Downing.
The Rescue[]
Primrose was in Ga'Hoolology with Soren. Later, when The Band was heading out to look for the Rogue Smith of Silverveil, Primrose and Eglantine showed up to go with them. Primrose explained that she wasn't going to look for her parents, because on the night of the Aurora Glaucora she saw their scrooms. They weren't mad about the lost eggs, and were happy she was in a good place. When Soren explained they couldn't go with them, Primrose understood.
The Shattering[]
Coming Soon!
The Burning[]
Coming Soon!
The Hatchling[]
Coming Soon!
The Coming of Hoole[]
Coming Soon!
To Be a King[]
Coming Soon!
The Golden Tree[]
Coming Soon!
The River of Wind[]
Coming Soon!
Exile[]
Coming Soon!
The War of the Ember[]
Coming Soon!
Lost Tales of Ga'Hoole[]
Fritha tells of her past as the daughter of the kraal Flinn. Flinn was there when Gylfie was captured by the kraals back in The Burning. He was actually rooting for Gylfie and Twilla to escape. Some time later, his mate laid what she said was a no hatcher egg. Said mate, Freya, soon died while out on a raid. Flinn continued to incubate the egg, and it indeed hatched, although Fritha was small even for a Pygmy Owl. Flinn taught her about dyeing her feathers, but didn't want her to be a killer, so he sent her away to the Great Tree for a better life. She would visit every so often though, and finally decided to tell everyone her roots. Her father was invited to the Tree to give a lecture, and even given a hollow next to his daughter.
The Rise of a Legend[]
Thora mentions a Pearl-Spotted Pygmy named Colonel Esa leads the Frost Beaks A unit.
Trivia[]
Their genus name Glaucidium is from Ancient Greek glaukidion meaning "little owl" or "owlet".
Four different species of Pygmy Owl have been mentioned in the series:
- Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium californicum)
- Mountain Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
- Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum)
- The species name passerinum means "sparrow-like" in reference to its small size.
- Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
Gallery[]
