How do you identify a Long-whiskered Owlet?

The long-whiskered owlet is one of the world's smallest owls. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Long-whiskered Owlet?

The Long-whiskered Owlet is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.

Where can you see a Long-whiskered Owlet?

The Long-whiskered Owlet is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.

What birds look similar to a Long-whiskered Owlet?

The Long-whiskered Owlet is most easily confused with the Balsas Screech Owl, the Arabian Scops Owl and the Red-chested Owlet.

Is the Long-whiskered Owlet endangered?

The Long-whiskered Owlet is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Long-whiskered Owlet

Xenoglaux loweryi

Owls · Strigiformes · Legendary

The Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) is a legendary owl found only in Peru, weighing about 48 g. The long-whiskered owlet is a vulnerable species of owl in subfamily Surniinae of the "typical owls", family Strigidae.

VulnerableLegendaryEndemicEats invertebratesforest48 g

Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), photo 1 — Photo: Laura Gaudette · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), photo 2 — Photo: Don Wellmann · CC0

Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), photo 3 — Photo: Laura Gaudette · CC BY 4.0

Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), photo 4 — Photo: (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), photo 5 — Photo: no rights reserved · CC0

About the Long-whiskered Owlet

The long-whiskered owlet is a vulnerable species of owl in subfamily Surniinae of the "typical owls", family Strigidae. It is endemic to a small area in Amazonas and San Martín departments of northern Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The long-whiskered owlet is one of the world's smallest owls. It is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long; three individuals weighed an average of 48 g (1.7 oz). Only the heavier Tamaulipas pygmy owl and the lighter elf owl are of a similar diminutive length. The sexes are alike. Their face has a dull cinnamon brown ruff around the eyes and buffish white "eyebrows". The ruff's outer feathers are long and thin and project beyond the face, the feature which provides the species' English name. Their crown, nape, and upperparts are brown with tiny dull black bars. Their tail is dull brown. Voice: What is thought to be the long-whiskered owlet's primary song is "a single, slightly hoarse, hoot, rising then falling slightly in pitch: whoOOo...apparently given in a series of 4–6 notes/min." "It may also give a rapid, low-pitched trill, which is rarely heard."

Where it lives

Peru

When to see it

Best months: January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Long-whiskered Owlet?: The long-whiskered owlet is one of the world's smallest owls. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Long-whiskered Owlet?: The Long-whiskered Owlet is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.
Where can you see a Long-whiskered Owlet?: The Long-whiskered Owlet is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Long-whiskered Owlet?: The Long-whiskered Owlet is most easily confused with the Balsas Screech Owl, the Arabian Scops Owl and the Red-chested Owlet.
Is the Long-whiskered Owlet endangered?: The Long-whiskered Owlet is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Long-whiskered Owlet for real

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