Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

The ferruginous pygmy owl is a small owl that is native to southern Arizona, southern Texas, Mexico, Central and northern parts of South America. The ferruginous pygmy owls that are found in the United States and northern Mexico are a subspecies that is referred to as the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. They are currently threatened primarily due to habitat loss. In Arizona 85% of the habitat has been lost to livestock use, water redirection and fires. The fires are exasperated by invasive buffel grass which allows fires to spread burning the catus and trees that the owls use for nesting.