Perhaps the most highly sought bird in all of Peru, the Long-whiskered Owlet is also among the most mysterious. Long known only from mist-netted specimens, it’s been seen a handful of times since 2007–most recently YESTERDAY by Rich Hoyer as he finished up scouting for this summer’s tour of Northern Peru. The images he sent on are among just a few photographs ever taken of this fancy-faced little owl.

Rich’s tour focuses on this and another spectacular Peruvian endemic, the Marvelous Spatuletail. We’ll keep you up to date as the tour begins later this month.