General

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl: Small owl with plain brown upperparts and white underparts with thick, brown streaks. Round head has stripes and no ear tufts. Nape has two conspicuous black patches outlined in white. Tail is long and rufous with dark brown bars. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: This owl is a resident from extreme south central Arizona and extreme southern Texas south along coast Mexico and into South America. Found in riparian areas within deserts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Arizona population as an endangered species in March 1997.

Breeding and Nesting

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: Three to five white eggs are laid in an old woodpecker nest in a tree or large cactus. Female incubates eggs for about 25 days; male brings her food while on the nest. Young fledge about 30 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: Feeds mostly on large insects and arachnids, but also takes small vertebrates; most active at dusk and dawn.

Vocalization

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: Call is a rapid, monotonous, repeated, and shrill hooting, uttered at a rate of about two per second, or 120 to 150 per minute, that may be repeated as many as 100 times without pause.

Similar Species

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: Northern Pygmy-Owl is grayer overall (although color variation does exist), has spots on head, and white tail bands.