Northern Pygmy Owl

Richard Wagener

The alert face and form of the Northern Pygmy Owl is a striking subject in Richard Wagener’s highly detailed, small-format woodengraving. Wagener is known for his delicate imagery of the flora and fauna that is native to the West Coast, and this tiny hunter is one such creature. They can be found along the western edge of Canada, the contiguous United States, and Mexico, often making their homes in the cavities of fir trees. Measuring only about six to seven inches at most, the Northern Pygmy is an unusual member of the owl family as it often hunts in the daytime, and though it mostly preys on smaller mammals such as mice, they will sometimes feast on creatures their size or larger, including quail.

Of interest regarding Wagener's woodengraving technique is his exclusive use of single-line as opposed to multiple-line carving tools, meaning that each line is carved individually.