Members of the genus Glaucidium are very small and tiny owls. They have rounded heads without ear-tufts. Their eyes are yellow. In many species the talons are, in relation to their size, very powerful. The facial disc is not very distinct. Some species have a large dark patch with a pale border on each side of the nape of the neck, looking like false eyes. Many are partly diurnal and sing from exposed perches. These are mostly very tenacious in the hunt, and show little fear, even of approaching humans. Glaucidium is a worldwide genus, containing some 30 species. Most of the Asian species, and some of the African species show physical and behavioural differences that suggest they might be better placed in Athene, and DNA evidence suggests that there is only a distant relationship between the Old World Pygmy Owls and those of the New World.
Physical charateristics
Very small owlet. Facial disc ligth grey with whitish markings, short white eyebrows. Head and neck dark grey and dusky brown back and wings. Tail long with 3 faint bars, upper breast and flank rufous wash, rest of underparts whitish with the belly sided streaked rufous. Yellow iris and bill.
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
wingspan min.:
0
cm
wingspan max.:
0
cm
size min.:
17
cm
size max.:
18
cm
incubation min.:
0
days
incubation max.:
0
days
fledging min.:
0
days
fledging max.:
0
days
broods:
0
eggs min.:
2
eggs max.:
4
Range
Africa : West, Central
Habitat
Dense primary forest and forest-scrub mosaic. Found in lowlands and montane forest up to 2150m
Reproduction
Nests in a tree cavity, clutch size 2-4 eggs
Feeding habits
Diet consists of mainly insects caught in the canopy. Also small vertebrates. Favors edge of forest clearings, usually hunts at night.
Video Red-chested Owlet
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfUpyrgNi2o
copyright: Josep del Hoyo
Conservation
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Resident and sedentary, young show some dispersal.