This northern pygmy owl looks fluffed up on a branch in the Shuswap in winter.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ann Steenhuysen
March 06, 2024 - 6:00 AM
Little northern pygmy owls have been caught on cameras in Kamloops and the Okanagan this winter.
The small birds are found in conifer forests in western North America and can be seen in towns during the winter months when they move to lower elevations.
They're easier to see than other owls because the pygmy owls hunt during the day and perch on the tops of conifer trees, according to All About Birds.
In several of these photos the owls are seen with voles in their clutches but they eat mainly small birds.
Northern pygmy owls can be identified by their small size, large round heads and lack of ear tufts. They have long tails and short, rounded wings.
On the back of their necks, the owls have two dark patches that look like eyes.
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A northern pygmy owl perches on a snowy branch in the Kamloops area.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Mary Madden
A northern pygmy owl perches on top of a tree in Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Valerie Walsh
A northern pygmy owl in the snow in Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Lyn MacDonald
A northern pygmy owl in the Shuswap.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ann Steenhuysen
A northern pygmy owl clutches his catch near Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Lyn MacDonald
A pygmy owl holds a dead vole in the Kamloops area.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Ben Hodgkiss
This pygmy owl looks camouflaged against a conifer.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
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