Select here to go directly to the main text of the page
World Owl Trust - leading the World in Owl Conservation
Saturday 4th February, 2012


Eurasian Pygmy Owl
Glaucidium passerinum
Eurasian Pygmy Owl - Glaucidium passerinum
Eurasian Pygmy Owl - Glaucidium passerinum
As of February 2005.
Description Tiny owl with small head and no ear tufts. Upper-parts dark brown spotted with white buff, under-parts mostly white with barred with dark brown. Dusky facial disk with short white “eyebrows”, eyes yellow and close set.
Size 15-19cm, 50-77g
Range N & C Europe east to E Siberia, N China and Sakhalin.
Habitat Montane and boreal forest particularly coniferous.
Food Small mammals up to the size of dormice and birds up to the size of thrushes.
Breeding 3-7 eggs laid between February and May, normally in a woodpecker hole. Incubation lasts 28 or 29 days, and the young leave the nest by 5 weeks, and become independent some 6-7 weeks later.
Call A long series of monotonous, flute like notes “deu”.
Status Not globally threatened, and locally relatively common.
Comments The species disappeared in W Germany through deforestation and the subsequent increase in the Tawny Owl population. In the late 1960’s it was successfully re-introduced using captive birds, and the population in the Black Forest now stands at over 200 pairs. This is a good example of how important captive breeding is in conservation.
Races Formerly considered conspecific with some N American pygmy owls, but DNA analysis shows clearly that they are distinct.
G.p.passerinum N & C Europe east to Yenisei, Siberia
G.p.orientale E Siberia, Manchuria, N China and Sakhalin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Click on logo to access the Excellence Through People Web site World Owl Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1107529
Limited Company Number: 5296745		 Positive About Disabled People logo  
The World Owl Trust is a member of BIAZA
The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.
The World Owl Trust is a member of EAZA

Any comments, errors or problems please contact the webmaster