Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum)

Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum) in Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. February 2017. Not baited. Not called in.

There are some encounters you never forget.

My first sighting of an Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum) is one of them. Somewhere in Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, in February 2017, I took part of a birding excursion which aimed to discover the owls of the region, including the Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum) and the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). We did hear the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) very well, even two of them. But most of all, right when we entered into the forest, this Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum) landed at the top of this tree, right in front of us. This beautiful owl species is only 15 to 19cm, and it lives in open coniferous and mixed forest. Feeding on small mammals and birds, we could notice how the other birds reacted to its song. It sang for about 15 minutes before flying away. Amazing!

Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum) in France. March 2017. Not baited. Not called in.

My second sighting was just as good. The owl was resting on a branch for may be about 15 minutes, not bothered by our presence at all, and then flew right between a friend and I, at our head's level. Incredible! 

Love Nature.
Jonathan