The Costa Rican Pygmy Owl is found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. This species prefers canopy and edges of highland forests and adjacent habitat. Sometimes even enters pastures and plains with scattered trees. (from wikipedia).
We were so in luck to see this little owl species, only 15cm in height, so close by. It’s a fairly uncommon bird, but can be seen right in the area were we are, above 1200 metres in the Talamanca Cordilleras. This owl is endemic from Costa Rica to Western Panama and is active during both day and night.
This one just sat on the road. Its about 10-15 cm high
Central America 2012 