Elf Owl

Elfenkauz

The Elfenkauz ( Micrathene whitneyi ) is the only species of the genus of owls Elfenkäuze ( Micrathene ). With a body length of 13-14 cm, it is one of the smallest owls.

The Elfenkauz has a round body, a short tail and a rounded head without ear tufts. Its circulation area covers the southwestern United States, and Eastern Mexico and the island of Socorro. It inhabits a variety of forest types, dry, grassy plains and wet savannas. He is going to find up to an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level.

When nesting they prefer abandoned woodpecker tubes up to 10 feet are off the ground. He is known for his tendency to nest not only in tree holes but also in Specht tubes in columnar cacti.

The almost exclusively nocturnal Elfenkauz hunt mainly large insects.