Bird Guide

Amazonian Pygmy Owl vs Andean Pygmy Owl

Amazonian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium hardyi)

Amazonian Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium hardyi

Small58 gForest

Voice: The main call of the Amazonian pygmy owl consists of repeated, short, high-pitched tweets.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: jjcbirder · CC BY 2.0
Andean Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium jardinii)

Andean Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium jardinii

Medium67 gForest

The Andean pygmy owl is 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long. Males weigh 54.9 to 77.4 g (1.9 to 2.7 oz) and females 54.6 to 75 g (1.9 to 2.6 oz). It has two distinct color morphs; in one the head, most of the body, wings, and tail are dull dark brown with white markings and in the other the same areas are dark chestnut with buff markings. In both the crown has small white dots. They have white "brows" over yellow eyes, white "moustaches", and a broad white throat. Their nape has a black and white face-like pattern. Their backs have spots and the tail bars, white or buff respectively. Voice: The Andean pygmy owl's song is a "long series of rapidly delivered, evenly spaced 'poop' notes" that is sometimes preceded by two whistles.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Andean Pygmy Owl
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Pichincha: Tandayapa ridge 3 km SSW Tandayapa, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Amazonian Pygmy Owl and Andean Pygmy Owl.