The Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) opportunistically hunts and feeds on songbirds, small mammals, reptiles, and insects (Merrill 1888, Holman 1926, Brock 1958, Bull et al. 1987). Diet studies indicate that although pygmy-owls feed primarily on species smaller than themselves, they also take species with body masses similar to or slightly larger than themselves (70–100 g; Giese and Forsman 2003). Occasionally they take even larger prey (i.e. ≥ twice body mass, such as the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus; Holt and Leroux 1996).