The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi), the world’s smallest owl, is a diminutive nocturnal raptor measuring about 5–6 inches in length and weighing less than 2 ounces. In Arizona, it is primarily a summer resident, arriving in March or April to breed and departing by late September or October to winter in Mexico. These owls inhabit desert riparian woodlands, saguaro and organ pipe cactus forests, and oak-pine foothills, often nesting in old woodpecker holes in saguaros or hardwood trees. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other small arthropods, which they hunt at night by perching quietly and then sallying out to catch prey in flight or gleaning it from foliage. Though tiny, Elf Owls are vocal, producing a series of high-pitched yelps and chuckles, especially during the breeding season. They are most common in southeastern Arizona, particularly in the Sonoran Desert and the Sky Island foothills. Listed as Least Concern globally, their populations in Arizona depend on the preservation of desert riparian corridors and large cacti for nesting sites.
