Long-whiskered owlet

The long-whiskered owlet is a vulnerable species of owl in subfamily Surniinae of the "typical owls", family Strigidae. It is endemic to a small area in Amazonas and San Martín departments of northern Peru.

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Distribution

Region

Northern Peruvian Andes

Typical Environment

It inhabits humid montane cloud forests with dense, moss-laden understory, abundant epiphytes, and thickets of Chusquea bamboo. The owlet favors steep, forested slopes with a closed canopy and cluttered mid-story where it can hunt at close range. It is highly range-restricted and sensitive to forest fragmentation, persisting mainly in well-preserved tracts. Records are concentrated around protected areas and private reserves that safeguard intact cloud forest.

Altitude Range

1800–2400 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size13–14 cm

Wing Span28–32 cm

Male Weight0.045 kg

Female Weight0.05 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Discovered only in 1976, the long-whiskered owlet is one of the world’s smallest and most elusive owls. Its namesake “whiskers” are elongated facial feathers that likely aid in camouflage and sensing nearby foliage. The species has become a flagship for cloud-forest conservation at Abra Patricia and Alto Nieva in northern Peru.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and shy

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief, low sallies between perches

Social Behavior

Typically solitary outside of the breeding season and often encountered as single birds. Likely forms monogamous pairs during breeding and maintains small territories within dense forest. Roosts quietly in tangled understory vegetation where it is well concealed.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Gives soft, high-pitched whistles and short trills delivered at night, often repeated at regular intervals. Vocalizations are subdued and can be easily missed in dripping cloud-forest conditions.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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