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Northern Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Photo by JoshuaGSmith
Published on Project Noah
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33.9584, -111.471

Field Notes

Habitat:

Coniferous forest

Notes:

This very small owl is quite loud for its size! We detected it first by its tooting call and then zeroed in on its location. In my third photo, you can see one of its "false eyes" on the back of its head. Tommy and I were very happy to have such a wonderful visual of the bird!

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Desmond.E.S.O
Soooooo Cool, Josh! Those False eyes are Awesome! Freaky too!
JoshuaGSmith
That's awesome! It is a very similar concept.
SukanyaDatta
It reminded me that fishermen in the Royal Bengal Tiger land of the Sunderbans, India, wear masks on the back of their heads to make the tiger think twice about attacking (apparently it will not readily attack face-to face) ...this owl employs a similar ploy! New info for me. Thank you, Joshua.
JoshuaGSmith
Thanks! They are a species that is constantly harassed by songbirds, so I bet those "eyes" make birds think twice before diving at the owl!
Ava T-B
Very cool about the "false eye."

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
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Raptors of North America
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Birds Of Arizona
Mission
Birds of California/Arizona
Photographed
PublishedMay 24, 2016

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