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That Nest in BirdhousesPygmy Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Glaucidium
Species: gnoma
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. glaukos blue, grey
Gr. glaux little owl
La. gnoma spirit of the mines
About 6 1/2″ long. Dark brown upper parts with circular white spots. A collar of mixed blackish brown and white around the back of the neck. White throat. Mottled brown band on the breast. Brown and white barred tail. Black streaks on gray white underside.

Pygmy owls inhabit forests (usually coniferous) from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast from Mexico to British Columbia and Alberta. Similar Pygmy Owl species inhabit northern Europe and South America.
Male pygmy owls are day hunters of birds, rodents, reptiles and insects which they provide for their mate and young. They make swift short jerky flights similar to woodpeckers, often from tree to tree.
Some pygmy owls are city birds. In northern South America they nest in tree cavities in residential areas. Their calls are heard before dawn and they can be seen during the day swooping down on their prey in home yards and gardens.
Pygmy owls build nests of a few twigs and feathers in natural or abandoned tree cavities up to seventy five feet high.
Sometimes they can be enticed to nest in birdhouses of the right size mounted in the right places. In one test ten percent of birdhouses placed in Argentina were occupied by mating pairs.
Females lay three to six white eggs which hatch after about one month incubation and young leave the nest in about another month when they begin to make short flights from branch to branch and perch with their siblings waiting to be fed by the busy male parent who provides for all.
The Pygmy Owl Birdhouse (same as for Saw-whet Owl, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Flicker, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Secure hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access or consider a fixed roof and Side Opening Doors if it may be a more convenient and safer alternative.
Mount this nest box out of reach (10 feet or higher) near woodland edges or clearings.
Place a bed of wood chips, not sawdust, on the floor. Remove everything from the nest box and clean well after the brood rearing season.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Other owls and woodpeckers also may use this nest box.
Pygmy Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Glaucidium
Species: gnoma
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. glaukos blue, grey
Gr. glaux little owl
La. gnoma spirit of the mines
About 6 1/2″ long. Dark brown upper parts with circular white spots. A collar of mixed blackish brown and white around the back of the neck. White throat. Mottled brown band on the breast. Brown and white barred tail. Black streaks on gray white underside.

Pygmy owls inhabit forests (usually coniferous) from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast from Mexico to British Columbia and Alberta. Pygmy Owls inhabit northern Europe and South America. Whether pygmy owls in regions of North and South America are one or several species is debated.
Male pygmy owls are day hunters of birds, rodents, reptiles and insects which they provide for their mate and young. They make swift short jerky flights similar to woodpeckers, often from tree to tree.
Some pygmy owls are city birds. In northern South America they nest in tree cavities in residential areas. Their calls are heard before dawn and they can be seen during the day swooping down on their prey in home yards and gardens.
Pygmy owls build nests of a few twigs and feathers in natural or abandoned tree cavities up to seventy five feet high.
Sometimes they can be enticed to nest in birdhouses of the right size mounted in the right places. In one test ten percent of birdhouses placed in Argentina were occupied by mating pairs.
Females lay three to six white eggs which hatch after about one month incubation and young leave the nest in about another month when they begin to make short flights from branch to branch and perch with their siblings waiting to be fed by the busy male parent who provides for all.
The Pygmy Owl Birdhouse (same as for Saw-whet Owl, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Flicker, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Secure a hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access or consider a fixed roof and Side Opening Doors if it may be a more convenient and a safer alternative.
Mount this nest box out of reach (10 feet or higher) near woodland edges or clearings.
Place a bed of wood chips, not sawdust, on the floor. Remove everything from the nest box and clean well after the brood rearing season.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Other owls and woodpeckers also may use this nest box.
Pygmy Owl
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Glaucidium gnoma
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Glaucidium
Species: gnoma
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. glaukos blue, grey
Gr. glaux little owl
La. gnoma spirit of the mines
About 6 1/2″ long. Dark brown upper parts with circular white spots. A collar of mixed blackish brown and white around the back of the neck. White throat. Mottled brown band on the breast. Brown and white barred tail. Black streaks on gray white underside.

Pygmy owls inhabit forests (usually coniferous) from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast from Mexico to British Columbia and Alberta. Pygmy Owls inhabit northern Europe and South America. Whether pygmy owls in regions of North and South America are one or several species is debated.
Male pygmy owls are day hunters of birds, rodents, reptiles and insects which they provide for their mate and young. They make swift short jerky flights similar to woodpeckers, often from tree to tree.
Some pygmy owls are city birds. In northern South America they nest in tree cavities in residential areas. Their calls are heard before dawn and they can be seen during the day swooping down on their prey in home yards and gardens.
Pygmy owls build nests of a few twigs and feathers in natural or abandoned tree cavities up to seventy five feet high.
Sometimes they can be enticed to nest in birdhouses of the right size mounted in the right places. In one test ten percent of birdhouses placed in Argentina were occupied by mating pairs.
Females lay three to six white eggs which hatch after about one month incubation and young leave the nest in about another month when they begin to make short flights from branch to branch and perch with their siblings waiting to be fed by the busy male parent who provides for all.
The Pygmy Owl Birdhouse (same as for Saw-whet Owl, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Flicker, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Secure hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access or consider a fixed roof and Side Opening Doors if it may be a more convenient and safer alternative.
Mount this nest box out of reach (10 feet or higher) near woodland edges or clearings.
Place a bed of wood chips, not sawdust, on the floor. Remove everything from the nest box and clean well after the brood rearing season.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Other owls and woodpeckers also may use this nest box.
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