Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

North America's smallest owl species, elf owls are widespread across the desert landscapes of the US-Mexico borders. Cavities in saguaro cacti are one of their favorite nesting spots.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Elf Owl is the world's smallest owl, measuring just 12.5-14.5 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly mottled brown and grey, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. The owl has large yellow eyes and small, barely visible ear tufts.

Both sexes look similar, although females tend to be marginally larger and heavier. Juveniles are heavily mottled, fluffier with gray and brown plumage. They molt into their full adult coloring after around 4 months.

Size

Length

12.5cm to 14.5cm

Wingspan

25cm to 27cm

Weight

35g to 55g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Elf Owl can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Elf Owl can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Elf Owl is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Elf Owls inhabit arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, including desert scrub, riparian woodlands, and oak-pine forests. They are particularly associated with areas containing saguaro cacti or trees with suitable nesting cavities.

They are found in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States. Most populations in the US migrate south to Mexico for the winter, returning to breed in spring.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,100 meters

Climate zones

Arid, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Elf Owl. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons