Latvia’s bird of the year announced / Article

The Society has chosen the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), the smallest of Latvia’s owls, as its bird of the year for 2026.

In Europe as a whole, the Eurasian pygmy owl population is stable, and in many countries the number of Eurasian pygmy owls is increasing, but the LOB’s monitoring of birds of prey in Latvia shows a decline in this species. Over the last 20 years, the number of pygmy owls in Latvia has declined by 45%, and therefore this species is classified as endangered at the national level and included in the Latvian Red Book.

Viesturs Ķerus, chairman of the LOB board, says that the Eurasian pygmy owl is in an unenviable situation – in the long term, like many northern species, it could be threatened by climate change, but currently the main threat to its population is habitat loss and degradation, such as the clearing of old forests.

The pygmy owl, which is 16 to 17 centimetres long and has a wingspan of about 35 centimetres, inhabits mixed and coniferous forests.

The most important tree species for it is spruce, which forms shady forest stands with suitable hiding places and provides feeding opportunities. In Latvia, pygmy owl nests are most often found in hollows in aspen trees.

In 2026, the association is focusing on the protection of the owl and other species associated with old forests – both by advocating for nature-friendly forest management laws and regulations and by promoting the protection of forests that are particularly important for nature.

The pygmy owl is a sedentary bird, but outside the nesting season, it can roam outside its territory and sometimes even outside the forest. As the pygmy owl’s favourite prey is small birds, it is sometimes possible to spot this owl at bird feeders. If you manage to spot a pygmy owl in the wild, LOB invites you to register your sighting on the portal “Dabasdati.lv”.

The association will soon announce a themed bird drawing competition for 2026.

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