Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eurasian Pygmy Owl
Glaucidium passerinum
Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) — Owls of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 57.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Glaucidium
- Species passerinum
Quick facts
- Weight
- 57.9 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 57.9 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eurasian Pygmy Owl?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 57.9 g.
Where does the Eurasian Pygmy Owl live?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eurasian Pygmy Owl belong to?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Eurasian Pygmy Owl eat?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Eurasian Pygmy Owl migrate?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Eurasian Pygmy Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eurasian Pygmy Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Eurasian Pygmy Owl — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eurasian Pygmy Owl's range?
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl has a mapped global range of about 11.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.