SFVAS’s Bird of the Month for October is the Northern Pygmy Owl!
The Northern Pygmy Owl is a tiny powerhouse, measuring only about six to seven inches long. Unlike most of their nocturnal cousins, these tiny owls are famously diurnal, meaning they do most of their hunting during the day and around dawn and dusk. With a round head, bright yellow eyes, and a neat trick of sporting false “eyespots” on the back of their necks to fool predators, they feed on everything from large insects to small birds and mice.
When it comes to the Los Angeles area, these little raptors are secretive residents primarily found tucked away in the higher elevations and wooded canyons surrounding the basin. Local spots like the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains provide the kind of mixed woodlands and conifer habitats they love. Though spotting one right in the urban sprawl is rare, they occasionally drift down into foothills and lower canyon riparian areas during the cooler winter months.
Photos by Pat Bates & David Barton
