Elf Owl

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Elf Owl is a very small, nocturnal bird, about the size of a large sparrow (13-15 cm long). It has a large, rounded head without ear tufts, yellow eyes, brown upperparts with white spots, and a brown and gray breast with white belly. The tail is very short. The sexes are similar in size and appearance.

It is a cavity nester and will occupy an old woodpecker hole in a large cactus or dead tree. Eggs are laid once every other day on the bare floor of the cavity from the last week of April through early June; most in late May. The females lay clutches of 3-4 eggs that are incubated by male and female for 14 days.

Its diet consists almost exclusively of arthropods (Insects, spiders...). Most Elf Owl populations are migratoy, moving south to Mexico in winter.

Did you know?
that Elf Owls breeding success is the highest of any reported for North American Owls (70% of all eggs laid result in fledged young)? This high rate of success is due to the difficulty that mammalian predators have in reaching nests, especially those in cacti.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	STRIGIFORMES
Family	STRIGIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Micrathene whitneyi
Name (English)	Elf Owl
Name (French)	Chevêchette des saguaros, Chevêchette-elfe
Name (German)	Elfenkauz
Name (Spanish)	Mochuelo de los saguaros, Mochuelo duende, Tecolotito enano
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Greg W. Lasley

Distribution

Distribution
Range	South-west United States to South Mexico
Habitat	Often in dryer habitats. It can be found in different kind of forests, arid lowland scrubs, Saguaro deserts, wooded canyons.
Wild population	About 190,000 (Partners in flight 2008), but this species has suffered from loss and degradation of habitat, much of which has been converted to agriculture, and in some parts of its U.S. range it has become quite rare. Reintroduction programs to southern California have been met with mixed success. Habitat restoration in Arizona and New Mexico and elsewhere is underway.
Zoo population	6 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Owls travel best in completely dark boxes. Boxes should be slightly longer than the head to tail length of the bird intended to travel, and wide and high enough for the bird to be able to stand or lie down in comfort without banging its shoulders or head. A well made wooden box with no perches is required, with carpet or some other non slip surface fixed on the floor and a padded ceiling, with air-holes on either side. The easiest type of door to use is an upward sliding door at one end. The door can then be slid up a small amount; the bird visualised before being grasped by the legs, carefully, through the small opening before sliding the door fully open for removal. A handle fixed to the top of the box makes carrying easier.

For air transport, Container Note 20 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Greg W. Lasley

Why do zoos keep this animal

The reason for keeping elf owls is primarily educational as they are the smalles owl species of North America. They are also a good ambassador species for the conservation of their habitats, which are threatened by human encroachment and the deviation of water.

How this animal should be kept

Pinioning or wing clipping is unacceptable for any of the owl species, which use flight as their main method of locomotion, so aviaries with enclosed tops are needed to prevent birds escaping. An aviary of at least 5 m² surface and a height of at least 2.5 m is required for a pair of medium-sized owls. The size should be increase by 2 m² for each additional adult. To ensure the birds have a feeling of security, at least one side (and better still two sides) of the aviary should be of a solid material. This also allows for keepers to approach for husbandry purposes without being seen by the birds. For the other sides, welded mesh appears to be the most suitable material, with a mesh area of 25mm x 25mm, but also nylon netting may be used. Chicken wire is an unsuitable material.

A public safety barrier should be built 1 m away from the enclosure fence to discourage visitors from putting fingers or foreign objects though wire mesh fronts.

Provision of enough high, horizontal or vertical, perches for each bird is essential; owls generally feel more secure on higher perches, especially above ‘people height’. Perches should be positioned so as to make maximum use of aviary space and encourage the birds to exercise. Wooden nest boxes and several areas providing shelter and protection from cold should be provided.

Owls should be fed once a day. The diet consists of freshly killed or freshly (but completely!) thawed rodents, quails and one day old chicks. The owls should have access to clean water for drinking at all times.