European Birds

Strigidae : Owls

Eurasian Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium passerinum

near Pisek, Czech Republic - March 2008

At about the same size as a Starling, the Eurasian Pygmy-Owl is Europe's smallest owl. Despite it's small size the Pygmy-Owl is a fierce predator and is capable of capturing prey larger than itself. It's night vision is quite poor in complete darkness, so it is mainly active at twilight.