Northern Pygmy-Owl Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Boreal Owl
Adult
Boreal Owls are larger and have shorter tails than Northern Pygmy-Owls. They also tend to live at higher elevations or farther north than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Christoph Moning | Macaulay LibraryBayern, May 08, 2010Similar Species
Flammulated Owl
Gray morph
Flammulated Owls have dark eyes while Northern Pygmy-Owls have yellow eyes. They also have shorter tails and more barring on the breast than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Tim Avery | Macaulay LibraryUtah, June 30, 2016Similar Species
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Adult
Northern Saw-whet Owls have shorter tails and paler faces than Northern Pygmy-Owls.
© Cameron Rutt | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 27, 2013Similar Species
Western Screech-Owl
Adult
Western Screech-Owls have ear tufts that Northern Pygmy-Owls do not have and they have more barring on the breast.
© Ryan O'Donnell | Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 02, 2017Similar Species
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Adult
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls look very similar, but they live in extreme southern Arizona and Texas (and south to Argentina). They tend to be brighter reddish-brown than Northern Pygmy-Owls, except for rufous morph individuals.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryQuintana Roo, January 14, 2014Main Species
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Small and compact, with a large, circular head without ear tufts. Brown overall with fine white speckles on the head and white spots on the back. Note yellow eyes and bill.
© Blair Dudeck | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 17, 2020Individuals along the wet Pacific slope are darker brown overall and give slower single toots.
© Eric Heisey | Macaulay LibraryWashington, January 28, 2017Hunts during the day and is often mobbed by other songbirds, which often makes seeing them easier.
© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 01, 1995Reddish color morphs are rusty-colored throughout with a spotted crown.
© Herb Elliott | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 03, 2019Small, compact owl with a round head and no ear tufts. Plumage varies from gray brown to brown to reddish, with darker individuals along the wet Pacific slope.
© Jerry McFetridge | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, October 22, 2019Song is a series of high, hollow toots spaced 1-2 seconds apart. Individuals in the interior tend to be more gray brown and often gives toots in pairs.
© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1995Individuals in the interior tend to be more gray brown and often gives toots in pairs. Note tiny white spots on crown and narrowly striped tail.
© Mike Hearell | Macaulay LibraryUtah, January 29, 2016Small owl with a round head. Brown overall with white spots on the back and two spots on the back of the head that look like eyes.
© Peter Olsoy | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 31, 2017Small and compact owl without ear tufts. Brown overall with fine white speckles on the head and streaks down the front.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1994Found in montane forests of western North America. Look for them in towns, especially during winter when they move to lower elevations.
© Angel Poe | Macaulay LibraryUtah, January 29, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae)
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