Description
English: Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) at nest hole. Madera Canyon Arizona 29APR12
Date 29 April 2012
Author BBODO https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BBODO
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Micrathene_whitneyi_29APR12_Madera_Canyon_AZ.jpg

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is a member of the owl family Strigidae, that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the long-whiskered owlet and the Tamaulipas pygmy owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is 40 grams. These tiny owls are 12.5 to 14.5 centimetres long and have a wingspan of about 27 cm. Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Micrathene, Species: Micrathene whitneyi (J. G. Cooper, 1861).