The Rocky Mountain Pigmy Owl in Montana
Journal
Condor
Volume
39
Issue
3 (May-June)
Year
1937
Pages
132
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text
The Rocky Mountain Pigmy Owl in Montana
On the morning of February 11, 1937, near the campus of the State University of Montana, I saw a peculiar bird fly into a clump of firs, which upon investigation proved to be not one but two birds, one alive, the other dead. The living one was a Rocky Mountain Pigmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma pinicola). Clutched in its talons was a Junco, probably Shufeldt Junco (Jumco oreganus shufeldti). All attempts to make the owl drop its prey were unsuccessful. In looking up the food habits of this owl, I found references to its feeding on sparrows, quail, insects, and mice but no reference to the Junco. Consequently, I assume this to be a new record or at least an unusual instance of the feeding habits of this bird.
G. B. Castle
Missoula, Montana, February 25, 1937
