Today is super fun, I really like when things align. I learned about owlpainting.com yesterday, a friend who only painted owls for two years and has developed an entire course around these magical creatures and helping guide people towards using their intuition and finding truths which were hidden. That, plus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GIRL WHO LOVES OWLS!!! It's just such a perfect coupling. I figured the smallest owl would be as cute as the birthday girl, so today we are going to find out what the world's smallest owl is!
Elf owls are the world's smallest owl, measuring about the size of a sparrow, 5 inches tall with a wingspan of 9 inches and a weight of between 1 to 1.5 ounces.
Besides it's size, you can identify Elf Owls by their round heads, they do not have "ear tufts" or feathers on top. Their feathers are grayish brown in color. Their eyes are pale yellow and are highlighted by thin white "eyebrows". Their bill is gray with a horn-colored tip.
Found from the southwest USA to Central Mexico and Baja California, Northern populations winter in Central Mexico and on the Pacific slope north to Sinaloa, Mexico. In the Sonoran Desert region, elf owls are found mainly in riparian habitats (places where there is water), or in areas where saguaro cactus are plentiful.
Elf owls nest in natural tree cavities and abandoned woodpecker holes that can be found in giant cacti, oak trees, and sycamores. The nests are about 15 to 35 feet from the ground. The female elf owl will lay 2 to 4 white eggs. In the wild, elf owls live 3-6 years. In captivity they usually live longer, between 6-10 years.
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