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The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124(3):633-635, 2012 
Diurnal Activity of the Austral Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium liana) in 
Southern Chile 
Heraldo V. Norambuena 1 * - 3 and Andres Munoz-Pedreros : 
ABSTRACT.—The Austral Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium 
naiia) is usually recorded us actively calling and 
foraging during daylight. We studied the diurnal activity 
of the Austral Pygmy Owl over I year in Cerro Nielol 
Natural Monument in southern Chile totaling 339 Ins ot 
observation. The most intense activity was recorded at 
mid-morning between 0900 to 1200 hrs when conspic¬ 
uous perching and foraging attempts were observed. 
Vocalizations showed a pattern associated with the 
reproductive season. The contact pair call was most 
used throughout the year (5491). slightly more than the 
territorial call (46%). Received 20 July 2011- Accepted 
14 April 2012. 
The Austral Pygmy Ow l ( Glaucidium tutna) is 
widely distributed in almost all environments in 
Chile from Atacama (24 S) to Tierra del Fucgo 
(53 S) (Jaramillo 2003). This species has been 
described by numerous authors as having diurnal 
activity (i.e.. Mousse 1945. Barms 1949. Goodall 
et al. 1951. Venegas and Jory 1979. Narosky and 
1 Raptor Conservation Program and Biological Control. 
Centro de Estudios Agrarios y Ambientales, Casilla 164. 
Valdivia. Chile. 
: Nucleo de Investigation en Estudios Ambientales NEA. 
Facultad de Recursos Naturales. Universidad Cutbhca de 
Temuco. Casilla 15-D. Temuco, Chile. 
3 Corresponding author; e-mail: buteonis@gmail.com 
Yzurieta 1987). often calling during daylight 
(Housse 1945. Banos 1949) and foraging on 
diurnal birds, mammals, and reptiles (e.g.. Plain- 
mantled Tit-Spinetail [Leptasthmirv aegitha- 
laides]. While-crested Elaenia [Elaeniu albiceps], 
degu rat 1 Octodon degu\. and lizards \Liolaemus 
spp.]; Jimenez and Jaksic 1989, 1993). However, 
to the best of our knowledge, records on diurnal 
activity arc mostly anecdotal and have not been 
systematically described. Our objective was to 
collect new data on the diurnal activity of the 
Austral Pygmy Owl to support the observation 
that it is primarily a diurnal bird of prey. 
METHODS 
The study was conducted in Cerro Nielol 
Natural Monument (CNNM) (114 ha) (38 43 S, 
72 35' W), a public protected wildlife area in 
the central lowland of the Araucama Region in 
southern Chile. Most of CNNM (76%) is covered 
by temperate forest, dominated by associations of 
boldo-roble (Peanuts boldus-Nolhojugus obliqua ), 
peumo-boldo ( Cryptocarya (dha-Peumus ho Id us), 
and olivillo ( Aextoxicon punchitumY, less repre¬ 
sented (24%) are the open shrublands dominated 
by maqui (Aristoteiia chilensis), retamilla (Teline 
monsppesulana), blackberry (Rubus ultnifolius), and 
colonial bentgrass (Agmstis capillaris) (Hauenstein 
et al. 1988). 
