What is "pygmy owl"

Pygmy \Pyg"my\, Pygmean \Pyg*me"an\, a. [L. pygmaeus. See Pygmy.] Of or pertaining to a pygmy; resembling a pygmy or dwarf; dwarfish; very small. `` Like that Pygmean race.''
--Milton.

Pygmy antelope (Zo["o]l.), the kleeneboc.

Pygmy goose (Zo["o]l.), any species of very small geese of the genus Nettapus, native of Africa, India, and Australia.

Pygmy owl (Zo["o]l.), the gnome.

Pygmy parrot (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of very small green parrots ( Nasitern[ae]), native of New Guinea and adjacent islands. They are not larger than sparrows.

Pygmy owls are members of the genus Glaucidium. They belong to the typical owl family, Strigidae, one of the two generally accepted living families of owls. The genus consists of about 26 to 35 species distributed worldwide. The exact number of species is somewhat disputed.

These are mostly small owls, and some of the species are called "owlets". Most pygmy owl species are nocturnal and hunt mainly large insects and other small prey.

Glaucidium forms a paraphyletic group with Surnia.