Glaucidium brasilianum cactorumis is an endangered subspecies of the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. This little guy is only about 6 inches (165mm) tall, weighing in at 2 ounces (57 gm), yet he's been known to take birds as large as a Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macruora). His primary diet is reptiles, with an admixture of birds and insects. He's endangered due to loss of habitat in Arizona, mostly because of over development of his home range for human housing. If you are in Southern Arizona and you hear this guy's monotonous tooting (he can sometimes start at midnight and continue, virtually nonstop, until 8am and will sometimes toot more than 100 toots in a row, for months!) please call the Arizona State Game and Fish Commission or drop me a note.
