About the Elf Owl
The elf owl is a small grayish-brown owl about the size of a sparrow found in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula. It has pale yellow eyes highlighted by thin white "eyebrows" and a gray bill with a horn-colored tip. The elf owl frequently inhabits woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti; it also nests in natural tree cavities. It is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Owls (Strigidae) |
| Species | Micrathene whitneyi |
| Species Codes | elfowl, ELOW |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Elf Owl belong to?
The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) belongs to the Owls family (Strigidae), in the order Strigiformes.
How can I identify the Elf Owl?
The elf owl is a small grayish-brown owl about the size of a sparrow found in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula. It has pale yellow eyes highlighted by thin white \"eyebrows\" and a gray bill with a horn-colored tip. The elf owl frequently inhabits woodp...
Where can I report a Elf Owl sighting?
You can log sightings of Elf Owl on eBird (ebird.org) using species code elfowl, or on iNaturalist.