Elf owl

Elf owl
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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)

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) 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.[3][4] 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.[5] It is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects.[6]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Micrathene whitneyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22689325A93226849. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689325A93226849.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Peterson, Roger Tory, 1908-1996. (1990). A Field Guide to Western Birds. Peterson, Virginia Marie, 1925-, National Audubon Society., National Wildlife Federation., Roger Tory Peterson Institute. (Third edition, completely revised and enlarged ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 204. ISBN 0-395-51424-X. OCLC 19511450.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Elf Owl - Distribution Neotropical Birds Online". neotropical.birds.cornell.edu. doi:10.2173/bow.elfowl.01. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  5. ^ "Elf Owl Fact Sheet". www.desertmuseum.org. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  6. ^ "Elf Owl - Introduction Neotropical Birds Online". neotropical.birds.cornell.edu. doi:10.2173/bow.elfowl.01. Retrieved 2020-02-07.