| The Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) ranges from southern Alaska all the way to the Honduras. In the U.S., it is a western species and inhabits montane forests along the coast as well as the interior Rockies. Birds from Arizona southward typically give a series of double-noted "hoots" while those farther north give a single hoot repeated every three to five seconds. The individual in the first seven images on this page was photographed in May, 1999, near Ellensburg, Kittitas Co., Washington with a Canon EOS A2 and EF 300 F4L IS & 1.4X extender on Fuji Sensia 100 pushed one stop. Fill flash was also used and the camera was hand held on a BushHawk shoulder mount. This individual was hunting near dusk and came within 15 feet of the observers on several occasions seemingly oblivious to us. |
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| Shortly before the following photos were taken, the bird had plunged into the damp grass nearby, apparently going after a prey item. The wet feathers visible on the breast in several of the shots at right were a result of this hunting activity. |
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| The owl is intently watching the grass below hoping to find a prey item. |
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| The false "eyes" on the back of the head of a Northern Pygmy-Owl are seen in the shot at right. It is thought that these "eyes" prevent a predator from attacking the bird from behind. |
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