Texas Elf owl, Whitney's Elf owl, Dwarf owl
The Elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is a small bird about the size of a sparrow found in North America. It likes to live in woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti and hunts various insects at night. These small owls are most active just before dawn and at this time they can often be heard calling to one another with songs similar to the sound of a young puppy.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Pursuit predatorPursuit predation is a form of predation in which predators actively give chase to their prey, either solitarily or as a group. Pursuit predators r...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Serial monogamySerial monogamy is a mating system in which a pair bonds only for one breeding season.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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Tiny AnimalsThe Elf owl has pale yellow eyes highlighted by thin white "eyebrows" and a gray bill with a horn-colored tip. Flight feathers of this tiny owl extend nearly past its tail. It also has fairly long legs and often appears bow-legged.
Elf owls are found in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula. They migrate to the southwest United States; California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, in the spring and summer for breeding. In the winter, Elf owls are found in central and southern Mexico. Migrant birds return north from mid-April to early May. Resident populations occur in a couple of places in south-central Mexico and along the Baja peninsula. Elf owls are often found in chaparral, saguaro deserts, canyons, plateaus, and woodlands often near the bodies of water.
Elf owls are generally solitary birds but can be found in small groups during migration and when mobbing predators. During the breeding season, they stay in pairs and become very territorial. Territories are established by the male and are defended by both the male and the female. This is done through the use of the song. Elf owls are nocturnal birds and during dusk and just before dawn are the times they are most active. They can often be heard calling to one another just after dusk or at sunset in a high-pitched whinny or chuckle. Hunting is done mostly during the night. These owls move by walking, hopping, and even climbing just like parrots. Prey is usually caught in flight or plucked from tree branches or from the ground. Straight-line flight is often deployed for this purpose but they will use an arced flight when in the vicinity of the nest and for flying to and from perches. Elf owls live in cacti and much like some birds use the shade and climate the cacti provide during the midday heat.
Elf owls are carnivores (insectivores) and feed mainly on insects such as moths, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, and beetles. They will also feed on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Elf owls are usually monogamous but may be serially monogamous as well. Pairs may mate for life or remain together for one breeding season. These birds usually choose abandoned, north-facing woodpecker cavities in saguaro cacti, sycamores, cottonwoods, and other hardwood trees, to raise their young. Females may lay anywhere from 1 to 5 eggs in springtime (late March to early May). The eggs are usually round or oval-shaped with white coloration. The eggs are incubated for about 3 weeks before the chicks hatch. Usually, chicks are born in mid-June or early July. By the end of July, they are almost always fledged and ready to set out on their own. Young females usually start to breed when they are one year old.
The main threat to these birds is ongoing deforestation and destruction of the woodpecker holes due to which Elf owls lose their breeding habitat. Adults as well as owlets also suffer predation by other predatory birds such as jays, hawks, and owls.
According to the What Bird resource, the total population size of the Elf owl is around 200,000 individuals. According to the World of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the total population size of the species is around 190,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Elf owls control the population of insects and mammals they prey on and in turn, serve as a food item for local predators. These include larger birds of prey, snakes, and ringtails.
