Cuban Pygmy Owl
Glaucidium siju
The Cuban Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium siju) is a rare owl found only in Cuba, weighing about 69 g. The Cuban pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is endemic to Cuba.
About the Cuban Pygmy Owl
The Cuban pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is endemic to Cuba.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Cuban pygmy owl is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long. Males weigh 47 to 68 g (1.7 to 2.4 oz) and females 66 to 102 g (2.3 to 3.6 oz). It has two color morphs, gray-brown and rufous; the former is more common. Both morphs have a pale grayish face, whitish to cinnamon "brows" over yellow eyes, and a pair of dark "false eyes" on the nape. The nominate gray-brown morph's crown, sides of the head, and back are grayish brown with white spots; the shoulders have diffuse dark barring. The tail is also grayish brown, with white bars. Voice: The Cuban pygmy owl has two known vocalizations. The male sings "a series of more or less equally spaced notes similar to the song of the mountain pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma)". Both sexes make an apparent alarm call, "a rapid and accelerating series of rather higher-pitched, squeaky-sounding notes".
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Cuban Pygmy Owl?
- The Cuban pygmy owl is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Cuban Pygmy Owl?
- The Cuban Pygmy Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 69 g.
- Where can you see a Cuban Pygmy Owl?
- The Cuban Pygmy Owl is endemic to Cuba, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Cuban Pygmy Owl?
- The Cuban Pygmy Owl is most easily confused with the African Barred Owlet, the Amazonian Pygmy Owl and the Andean Pygmy Owl.
- Is the Cuban Pygmy Owl endangered?
- The Cuban Pygmy Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Cuban Pygmy Owl for real
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