Michel Poinsignon / Eurasian pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) perched on conifer branch, Vosges Mountains, France, June.

Markus Varesvuo / Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) perched in pine tree. Hyvinkää, Finland. January

Markus Varesvuo / Eurasian pygmy owl (glaucidium passerinum) perched on branch, Helsinki, Finland, January

Gerrit Vyn / Northern Pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma) adult in tree in winter, Okanogan County, Washington, USA, November

Bengt Lundberg / Pygmy owl peers out of nest hole in tree {Glaucidium passerinum} Sweden

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) perched in a tree and looking around, with puffed out feathers, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) preening, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) looking out from nest hole in a tree, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) perched in a tree, looking around, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) looking out from nest hole, eating prey, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

Stephane Granzotto / Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) looking around, takes off from perch in a tree, Rhone-Alpes, France, September.

David Fleetham / Peruvian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium peruanum) from Peru and Ecuador, captive