The Smallest Owl

Photo by Hayford Peirce
The Smallest Owl: Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi)

Elf owls are the lightest species of owls, with an average weight of 1.4 ounces. They are found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico and feed on mainly insects. They are non-aggressive and play dead in situations in which they feel threatened. While their population is decreasing, it is still too large to be considered to be vulnerable, hence its status of Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

Bird / Owl

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