Wingspan: Can exceed 10 feet. All the four toes of the owls are pointed in opposite direction i.e. Size Elf owls are about the size of a sparrow, 5 inches tall. It is a permanent eyeshadow that retails for $7.00 and contains 0.07 oz. Can you guess the mean body weight of elf owl? This owl, barely the size of a sparrow, is the smallest in the world. Their wingspan is 9 inches and it weighs 1 to 1.5 ounces. Compare. It is twice the size of the tawny owl and the barn owl. It occurs in desert areas and associated riparian forest. Study Cast - Barred Owl (1/2 size) $64.95. Study Cast - Barn Owl (1/3 size) $59.95. For more information, please see the related link below: The smallest owl—weighing as little as 31 g (1 3 ⁄ 32 oz) and measuring some 13.5 cm (5 1 ⁄ 4 in)—is the elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi ... An owl's talons, like those of most birds of prey, can seem massive in comparison to the body size outside of flight. Elf owls are about the size of a sparrow, 5 inches tall. This is in order to withstand the force of an impact with prey. Most similar in plumage to Flammulated Owl, but note the Elf Owl's white eyebrows, yellow eyes, tiny size, and habitat. The incubation period is 3 to 4 weeks. On average, the clutch size is 9. The very smallest of owls in North America, the Elf Owl, is about six inches from head to tail. Add To Cart. Name: Elf Owl – Micrathene whitneyi Other Common Names: Whitney’s Elf Owl (whitneyi); Sanford’s Elf Owl (sanfordi); Texas Elf Owl (idonea). Compare. The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is a member of the owl family Strigidae that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. And yes, vultures are considered raptors. However, these tiny-but-mighty hunters don’t go after small mammals like most owls. Life Span In the wild, elf owls live 3-6 years. One of the smallest owls in the world, about the size of a sparrow. The bony structures in an owl's feet are shorter and stronger than the equivalent bones in other birds. Migrant Elf Owls return north in mid-August or early May. The face often has a reddish brown facial disc with white eyebrows and gray spots on the forehead and wings. Feet and talons of a Powerful Owl. In size, it is as small as a sparrow. The only other land bird to compare with it in size in Britain would probably be the great bustard, which died out nearly 200 years ago. Elf Owls inhabit desert environments, making themselves right at home with sand, Saguaro cacti, and scorpions. It is the smallest owl and is about the size of a sparrow. The elf owl frequently inhabits woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti; it also nests in natural tree cavities. Owl's talons are very powerful, as they are used to capture prey. The Elf Owl is not only North America’s smallest owl but one of the smallest in the world. Size comparison illustration courtesy of Charting Nature. Cinereous Vulture, also called the Eurasian Black Vulture. In order to deceive the predator, elf owl acts like a dead bird (called ‘playing dead’). Click on any owl to find out species information including size, habitat, hunting behavior, and listen to their individual calls. Elf Owl Biology A Reference for North and Central American Owls. Elf Owl – Micrathene whitneyi Description. two forward and two backwards due to which these birds have a firm grip on their prey. The elf owl migrates to Arizona and New Mexico in the spring and summer. The wing span for this small owl is about 14 inches wide. It has the weight of 1.4 oz to 40 gram. Study Cast - Sharp-shinned Hawk. Add To Cart. Elf owls nest in natural tree cavities and abandoned woodpecker holes that can be found in giant cacti, oak trees, and sycamores. The wing span for this small owl is about 14 inches wide. They are 5-12 inches tall and have a wingspan of 15-16 inches and short tails. The Elf Owl is a tiny, short-tailed owl with a round head and no ear-tufts. The female elf owl will lay 2 to 4 white eggs. Add To Cart. The Elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is a small grayish brown bird about the size of a sparrow found in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula. Instead, their prey is mainly insects, scorpions, and spiders—critters much more fitting to the scale of this tiny owl. Like most owl species, Elf Owls are nocturnal hunters. The riparian habitat type has been reduced in California to 4% its natural or original size. Patterned with rufous, gray, and white. Most owl species are at the lower end of the size range. Using sensitive sound equipment the team try to find out how an owl can fly so silently compared to other birds. Found in brushy woodlands and surrounding desert, where they nest in natural cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes in trees and cacti. Adult. It has pale yellow eyes highlighted by thin white "eyebrows" and a gray bill with a horn-colored tip. It is only about six inches tall when it is fully grown. West of Wickenburg, Facts about Elf Owls 2: the length. It feeds primarily on insects, with a rare lizard or small snakes thrown in. The 1.4-ounce Elf Owl is the smallest in North America: about the size of a sparrow and just as small as Peru's Long-whiskered Owlet. They are also more hostile than males. In fact, when full grown they are often mistaken by observers as young owls. Taken from Super Powered Owls. In fact, this tough little owl will actually dine on scorpions… once it has carefully removed the stingers. About the same size as a House Sparrow,but a little chubbier. They range in size from the tiny Elf Owl to the Cinereous Vulture, the largest. Elf Owl The smallest owl found in North America is the Elf Owl. Some populations are migratory, others sedentary. Add To Cart. $64.95. Owls apparently feed only on animals. Subspecies: There are four recognized races of Elf Owl, two of which that have ranges that cross into North America.