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 Owls breeding along the border zone of Mexico and the 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 recognize it as a separate species. I visited Isla Socorro in February 2017 with a science team. It was no surprise I didn’t see this owl, because of its nocturnal nature, and the limited time we had on the island. On another science expedition three months later in Joshua Tree National Park, I finally captured images of these tiniest raptors.

20 Photos

Elf Owl - Micrathene whitneyi — **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.
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**Date Taken:** 2017:06:18 18:44

**Location:**

Cottonwood Spring
Joshua Tree National Park, California
United States
2962.74 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250

**File Name:** ElfOwl_D5X6207

© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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Pin It — **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.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2017:06:18 18:44

**Location:**

Cottonwood Spring
Joshua Tree National Park, California
United States
2962.74 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250

**File Name:** ElfOwl_D5X6207

© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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