Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi
Authorities list this sparrow sized owl as “endangered” in California. They are the smallest owls in the world. Researchers believe that the Lower Colorado River is the limit of their range in California.
There are three breeding populations of Elf Owl breeding along the border zone of Mexico and the southwestern USA, and a fourth group in south Baja California (Mexico).
- M. w. whitneyi has the largest breeding range. They live in the American Southwest and northwest Mexico.
- M. w. idonea breeds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and northern Mexico.
- M. w. sanfordi is a nonmigratory group that lives in south Baja California.
- M. w. graysoni lives on Isla Socorro in the Revillagigedo Archipelago 300 miles SSW from the southern tip of Baja California, and 600 miles from the Mexican mainland.
Because of the isolated nature of M. w. graysoni, some scientists believe we should recognise it as a separate species. When I visited Isla Socorro in 2017, it was no surprise I didn’t see this owl, because of its nocturnal nature, and the limited time we had on the island.
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10 Photos

Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Young owl in the nest hole, which was escavated by Ladder-Backed Woodpeckers. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:18 18:44 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X6207 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:18 19:50 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X6235 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:18 20:01 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X6239 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 19:40 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7092 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 19:41 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7095 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 19:42 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7100 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 19:44 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7103 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 20:02 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7109 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 20:02 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7110 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Elf Owl(Micrathene whitneyi) |
Description: Parent bird bringing invertebrate prey to its young. Elf Owls are the world's smallest owl by weight. These birds are strictly nocturnal and normally found from southern Arizona, south into Mexico. Finding these birds here establishes a record for California. Seen in Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:19 20:32 |
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: ElfOwl_D5X7124 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |

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