Elf owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elf owl |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Micrathene Coues, 1866 |
| Species: |
M. whitneyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micrathene whitneyi (J. G. Cooper, 1861)
|
|
 |
|
| Breeding
Non-breeding Year-round Migration |
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is the smallest owl in the world! Imagine an owl no bigger than a sparrow. These tiny birds live in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula. They have grayish-brown feathers, pale yellow eyes with thin white "eyebrows," and a gray beak. Elf owls are night birds, meaning they are nocturnal. They mostly hunt and eat insects.
Contents
The Tiny Elf Owl
The elf owl got its scientific name, Micrathene whitneyi, a long time ago. An American naturalist named James Graham Cooper first described it in 1861. The name Micrathene means "small Athene," referring to another type of owl. There are a few different kinds, or subspecies, of elf owls. Sadly, one type, the Socorro elf owl, has not been seen since 1931 and is thought to be gone forever.
These tiny owls are only about 12.5 to 14.5 centimeters (5 to 5.7 inches) long. They weigh around 40 grams (1.4 ounces), which is super light! Their wingspan is about 27 centimeters (10.6 inches). They have long legs and sometimes look a bit bow-legged. Elf owls are often found in chaparral areas.
Where Do Elf Owls Live?
Elf owls live in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Many of them travel long distances, like snowbirds! They fly north to places like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas for the spring and summer to raise their families. When winter comes, they migrate south to central and southern Mexico. Some elf owls, however, live in the same place all year round, especially in parts of Mexico and the Baja California peninsula. They often make their homes in abandoned woodpecker holes found in saguaro cacti or other trees.
Elf Owl Behavior
Elf owls have some interesting behaviors! If they feel threatened or are handled, they might pretend to be dead. This trick can make a predator relax its grip, giving the owl a chance to escape.
How Elf Owls Protect Themselves
These owls are very protective of their homes and families. They establish territories, which both the male and female owl defend. Males also protect their chosen female mate. They often use their unique songs to warn other owls to stay away. During the breeding season, a male and female elf owl usually stay together as a pair. However, you might see them in small groups when they migrate or when they team up to scare away bigger predators. Other birds, like jays, hawks, and larger owls, sometimes hunt elf owls and their young.
Elf Owl Sounds
You can usually hear elf owls calling to each other at dusk and dawn. Their calls sound like a high-pitched whinny or a soft chuckle. Some people say it sounds like a young puppy! These songs usually have 5 to 7 notes that repeat quickly. Male elf owls have more types of calls than females. They use different calls to mark their territory or to attract a mate.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Elf owls are careful when choosing a place to raise their babies. They often pick old woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti, sycamores, or other trees. Sometimes, they even nest in human-made spots like telephone poles! They prefer a bare cavity, so they might remove any plants inside.
Raising Young Owlets
Elf owls usually stay with the same mate for about three months during the breeding season. The female will sing special calls, and the male will respond with his own "mating rituals." While they both hunt for food, the male often brings food to the female while she stays near their chosen nest.
Females usually lay about three eggs, but it can be anywhere from one to five. The eggs are white and round or oval-shaped. After about 24 days, the tiny chicks hatch! The young owlets stay in the nest for about 10 weeks. They are usually born in mid-June or early July. By the end of July, they are almost ready to fly and live on their own.
After the chicks hatch, the mother owl often stays in the nest to protect them. The father owl does a lot of the hunting, bringing food for both the mother and the babies. This shared care lasts until the young owls are about 17 to 21 days old. Elf owls typically live for 3 to 6 years in the wild. In safe places like zoos, they can live up to 10 years!
What Do Elf Owls Eat?
Elf owls are excellent hunters at night! They fly in a straight line to catch their prey. They often live inside cacti, which gives them shade and a cool place to stay. Their main diet consists of arthropods, which are creatures like insects and spiders. They love to eat moths, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, and beetles.
You might see them hunting near agaves and ocotillos, where many insects gather around the flowers. In cities, they sometimes hunt near outdoor lights that attract bugs. Elf owls are known for catching flying insects right out of the air! They also eat scorpions. Before eating a scorpion, they cleverly remove its stinger. It seems the scorpion's sting doesn't bother them much! Sometimes, they will also eat small mammals like kangaroo rats, tiny reptiles, or even other small birds.
Protecting Elf Owls
Sadly, the number of elf owls has been decreasing in recent years. This is mainly because their natural homes, especially in the desert areas of California, are being lost. Human activities, like building new homes and changing water paths, destroy the places where these owls live. Also, new types of plants that aren't native, like the salt cedar, can take over their habitat. When their homes are destroyed, elf owls find it hard to nest, hunt, and have babies.
Even though elf owls are not considered threatened worldwide, they are listed as "endangered" in California. This means there are very few of them left in that state. To help, California has started programs to breed elf owls in safe environments. Many groups are also working hard to protect their desert and riverside homes. It's important to help these amazing little owls survive!
Elf Owls in Stories
An elf owl named Gylfie is a main character in the popular Guardians of Ga'Hoole book series by Kathryn Lasky. Gylfie also appeared in the 2010 movie based on the books.
See also
In Spanish: Mochuelo de los saguaros para niños
