Elf owl
Micrathene whitneyi
L 5¼″ W 15″
Habitat: The elf owl is restricted to the southwestern United States where it is found primarily in the saguaro cactus deserts, bottomland sycamore and cottonwood stands and in conifer-hardwood forests at high elevations.
Nest: One of the most common nest sites of the elf owl is in old woodpecker holes in saguaro cactus. It has also been reported nesting in cavities in sycamore, walnut, mesquite, and pine trees (Ligon 1967, Bent 1938, Hayes and James 1963). Cavities are usually located in snags or in dead branches of living trees.
Food: Elf owls feed almost entirely on insects, particularly beetles, moths, and crickets. They also feed on centipedes and scorpions and have been reported to take an occasional reptile (Ligon 1967).