elf owl

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elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi)

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elf owl

bird

Also known as: Micrathene whitneyi

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

elf owl, (Micrathene whitneyi), tiny bird of prey of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes) of Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is the smallest owl and is about the size of a sparrow. In the cactus deserts, elf owls are among the most common birds, but they also inhabit forested areas, dry grasslands, and wet savanna. They nest in holes in cacti or trees and hunt insects at night. Elf owls have round heads, which are large in proportion to the body, and big yellow eyes.