Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Central American Pygmy Owl
Glaucidium griseiceps
Central American Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps) — Owls of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Central American Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 50.6 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 griseiceps
Where it lives
Southern Mexico to western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Central American Pygmy Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Central American Pygmy Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Central American Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA s Mexico to w Colombia and nw Ecuador.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.6 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 270,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Central American Pygmy Owl?
The Central American Pygmy Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.6 g.
Where does the Central American Pygmy Owl live?
The Central American Pygmy Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA s Mexico to w Colombia and nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Central American Pygmy Owl belong to?
The Central American Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium griseiceps) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Central American Pygmy Owl eat?
The Central American Pygmy Owl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Central American Pygmy Owl migrate?
The Central American Pygmy Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Central American 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 Central American Pygmy Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Central American Pygmy Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Central American Pygmy Owl's range?
The Central American Pygmy Owl has a mapped global range of about 270,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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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.