Elf Owl

Quick Take

• The world's smallest owl barely tips the scales, yet it takes on prey that would make most birds think twice. See size and behavior →
• Some elf owls mate for life. Others don't. What makes the difference? Explore mating patterns →
• Its conservation status says 'least concern,' yet the population numbers tell a more complicated story. Check conservation status →
• The elf owl never builds its own nest, and the reason why says everything about how it survives. See nesting habits →

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) lives in North America in the Southwestern United States and throughout most of Mexico. It inhabits lowland areas with plenty of cover and nesting cavities, primarily foothill canyons and saguaro deserts. It spends its days perched on low branches waiting for prey and is most active during dawn and dusk. Listen for their high-pitched chuckles as they call to one another in the evenings.

5 Amazing Elf Owl Facts

• The elf owl is the smallest and lightest owl in the world, weighing only 1.4 ounces on average.
• They are not picky about their habitats as long as they are in a lowland area with some vegetation and nesting areas.
• These birds are social, often forming groups for protection and migration.
• Some mate for life, while others are only monogamous during one breeding season.
• Their population is declining due to habitat destruction.

Where to Find the Elf Owl

Elf owls live in North America in the United States and Mexico. They breed in the Southwestern part of the US and Northern Mexico during spring and summer and migrate to Southern Mexico during the winter. There are also year-round residents in Southern Baja, California, and a few other spots in Mexico. This species lives in diverse habitats, including saguaro cactus deserts or foothill canyons around sycamores or large oaks. They are not picky about their environment and will inhabit any lowland area with cover and nesting cavities.

Nests

Their nesting sites are old woodpecker holes in trees or cacti.

Classification and Scientific Name

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is from the Strigiformes order, which comprises all owl species. The Strigidae family contains the true owls. The genus Micrathene only includes the elf owl. The specific name, whitneyi, was chosen to honor the geologist Josiah Whitney.  There are four recognized subspecies of the elf owl.

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

The elf owl is the world’s smallest and lightest owl, measuring 4.9 to 5.7 inches long and weighing 1.4 ounces, with a 10.5-inch wingspan. This compact owl has a short tail, small feet, and a relatively large head, which lacks ear tufts. They also have long legs that appear bow-legged. Their coloring is a mottling of brown, gray, rufous, and white, with a black-outlined facial disc.

These owls are most active during dusk and dawn and can often be heard calling to each other in high-pitched chuckles. They are nocturnal, foraging for food under the cover of darkness. They also migrate at night in small family groups. This species is socially monogamous and will join other elf owls for protection. They roost quietly in their secluded tree cavities during the day. 

Migration Pattern and Timing

Elf owls are residents or short-distance migrants. Populations in Baja, California, and other parts of Mexico live year-round in their environments. Those that breed in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico will migrate into Southern Mexico for the winter.

Diet

Elf owls are carnivores that primarily hunt from low perches.

What Does the Elf Owl Eat?

They eat moths, crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, katydids, cicadas, scorpions, spiders, flies, wasps, bees, and centipedes. Occasionally, they consume larger prey like lizards, snakes, and rodents. You often find them hunting from low perches and taking off to catch flying insects mid-air. They sometimes chase prey on foot and snatch it from the ground. They may be small, but they are agile hunters with sharp bills and talons.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the elf owl as LC or “least concern.” Due to its very large range and population, this species does not meet the thresholds for “threatened” status. However, their population trend is decreasing, though not at a rapid pace. Its most significant threat is habitat loss. Their riparian forest and desert scrub environments are dwindling due to the agricultural industry and urbanization.

What Eats the Elf Owl?

Elf owl predators include bigger owls, coyotes, tree-dwelling snakes, jays, hawks, bobcats, and ringtail cats. They defend themselves by nesting in tree cavities, using their beaks and talons, and flying away. Some mating pairs will join with other owls to form small groups to mob predators.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Elf owls will choose to be monogamous during one breeding season, or they may mate for life. Males sing loudly at night to attract females. During courtship, males sing inside a potential nest and feed the females. Females lay one to five, but typically three, white eggs. They incubate them for 24 days while the male brings food. The young fledge from the nest 27 to 28 days after hatching, but the parents care for them for several more days. Elf owls live three to six years in the wild but can survive up to ten in captivity.

Population

The global elf owl population is estimated to number 72,000 mature individuals. Their population is in a slow decline due to ongoing habitat destruction. Their numbers show no signs of extreme fluctuations or fragmentation.