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Home/Species/ Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

(Cooper, 1861)

Elf Owl

G4Apparently Secure Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106556
Element CodeABNSB09010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderStrigiformes
FamilyStrigidae
GenusMicrathene
Other Common Names
Chevêchette des saguaros (FR) elf owl (EN) Tecolote Enano (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
The generic name Micropallas is a junior synonym of Micrathene (Banks and Browning 1995).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-26
Change Date2025-03-26
Edition Date2025-03-26
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species has a limited range in the southwestern U.S. and northern México. It is restricted to areas with available nest cavities excavated by other species. Threats and threat impacts are generally poorly studied, although habitat loss and degradation is considered an ongoing threat. The population suffered historical declines of unknown severity and no recent trend data are available.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found in the southwestern United States and northern México (Henry et al. 2020). The migratory breeding range includes three disjunct areas: 1) the Lower Colorado River basin in extreme southern Nevada, southeastern California, central Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, northern Chihuahua, much of Sonora, and northern Sinaloa; 2) western Texas, northwestern Coahuila, and northeastern Chihuahua; and 3) the Rio Grande Valley in extreme southern Texas and extreme northern Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. There are also two year-round resident populations in México: 1) Baja California Sur; and 2) southwestern Puebla, Guanajuato, Districto Federal, and northern Oaxaca. The non-breeding range extends along western México from southern Sonora and southern Chihuahua to northern Oaxaca.

Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, the more limited non-breeding range extent is estimated to be 497,246 km² (RARECAT 2024). The full range extent including breeding, resident, and non-breeding ranges is estimated to be 2,058,778 km² (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025)
Occurrences Comments
There are many dozens of occurrences throughout the range (Henry et al. 2020).
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat loss and degradation is considered an ongoing threat. Loss of riparian habitat due to invasion of salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis), agricultural clearing, flood control, de-watering, overgrazing, and bank stabilization projects contribute to these threats. Also loss of desert scrub habitat due to agricultural conversion and urbanization (e.g.: Tucson and Phoenix areas) (Alcorn 1988, Millsap 1988, Haltermann et al. 1989, Henry 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

BREEDING: In California, nests in Populus-Salix-Prosopis riparian forest (Halterman et al. 1989); in southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and Sonora nests in Olneya-Cercideum-Prosopis desert-wash woodland, Populus-Salix-Celtis riparian forest, Cereus-Cercideum-Prosopis upland desert, Platanus-Juglans-Fraxinus-Acer canyon riparian forest, and evergreen woodland; in SW Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, nests in Agave-Acacia-Leucophyllum lowland desert, Prosopis-Acacia-Celtis-Chilopsis desert-wash woodland, Populus-Salix-Fraxinus-Juglans-Acer canyon riparian forest, and Quercus-Pinus-Juniperus evergreen woodland; and in the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas and Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico, nests in Acacia-Prosopis-Celtis-Diospyrus-Bumelia subtropical thorn woodland and Pithecellobium-Ehretia-Ulmus-Leucaena riparian woodland (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

In the Sonoran region, nests most often in saguaro (Cereus giganteus) and columnar cacti, fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and gooding willow (Salix goodingii) (Goad and Mannan 1987, Halterman et al. 1987, Henry and Gehlbach 1999). In riparian habitats, nests principally in Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii), fremont cottonwood, velvet ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. velutina), Arizona walnut (Juglans major), Chihuahua pine (Pinus leiophylla), and various evergreen oaks (Quercus arizonica, Q. emoryi, Q. hypoleucoides) (Marshall 1957, Ligon 1968, Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

In the Chihuahuan region of Texas, nests in yucca (Yucca faxoniana, Y. rostrata), agave (Agave havardiana, A. parryi), Rio Grande cottonwood (Populus wislizenii), black willow (Salix nigra), evergreen oaks (Quercus emoryi, Q. grisea) and deciduous oaks (Q. muhlenbergii). In the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, nests most often in eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), black willow (Salix nigra), mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and anacua (Ehretia anacua) (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

In western Arizona, most frequently encountered in riparian forests (45-88 percent of survey sites) and least frequently in pine-oak montane forest (8%) or oak chaparral (9%) (Millsap 1988). Nests in cavities in trees, cacti, flowering stalks of agave and yucca, fence posts, and utility poles created by ladder-backed woodpecker (Picoides scalaris), golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), acorn woodpecker, Strickland's woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi), gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis), and gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides), as well as in bird boxes (Johnsgard 1988, McKinney 1996, Henry and Gehlbach 1999). When woodpecker cavities are randomly oriented, select nesting cavities randomly (Korol and Hutto 1984, Goad and Mannan 1987). In Arizona, nest height averages 6.3 meters (range = 3.4-10.9 meters) above the ground in saguaro cacti and 10.3 meters (range = 5.3-18.4 meters) above the ground in riparian canyon habitat (Ligon 1968, Goad and Mannan 1987).

NON-BREEDING: In winter, may roost in bush or shrubby tree. In Senocereus-Neobuxbaumia tropical deciduous forest and Lemaireocereus semi-arid grassy savanna in Mexico (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

Ecology

Breeding density averages 2.2-8.3 nesting pairs per square kilometer for established populations and 0.3 pairs for colonizing populations (Henry and Gehlbach 1999). Territorial during the nesting season; multiple cavities are defended against conspecifics (Goad and Mannan 1987, Ligon 1968). Nine individuals radio-tracked in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, ranged over an average of 1.0 hectare (range = 0.2-2.6 hectares) of subtropical woodland (Gamel 1997 cited in Henry and Gehlbach 1999). In Arizona, two nesting pairs used 0.2 and 0.4 hectare of canyon riparian forest, respectively (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

Site fidelity is illustrated by the return of six nesting females to the same Chihuahuan Desert site the year following banding, the return of two after two years, and the return of one after three years (Henry and Gehlbach 1999). Maximum known age for a wild bird is 4 years, 11 months; can live up to 14 years in captivity (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) prey on fledglings and adults, and Mexican jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina) will attack fledglings. Suspected predators include Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi), gopher snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), green ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis), and ringtail (Bassariscus astutus). Western screech owls (Otus kennicottii) and acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) sometimes displace elf owls from cavities, and European starlings (Sturna vulgaris) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) may usurp cavities. However, because nesting cavities do not appear to be a limiting resource in the habitats studied thus far, competition with other cavity nesting species is not considered to be an important threat. Fly larvae (Calliphoridae) sometimes parasitize nestlings between their toes and on their body (Ligon 1968). In their quest to see an elf owl, some birders will drive owls from their cavity by pounding or rubbing on trees, playing or imitating owl vocalizations, or shining lights into nest cavities. Such disturbances may be detrimental during incubation and brooding (Henry 1998, Henry and Gehlbach 1999).

Reproduction

Eggs are laid once every other day on the bare floor of cavities from early May through early June; most in late May. Occasionally, egg laying begins the last week of April, especially during years of warmer temperatures and greater rainfall. The range-wide clutch-size mode is three eggs. Desert populations have larger clutches (mean = 3.4 eggs, range = 2-5, in Chihuahuan upland desert; mean = 3.2 eggs, range = 2-5 in Sonoran upland desert) than higher elevation populations (mean = 2.6 eggs, range = 1-4, in Arizona canyon riparian forest). Eggs are incubated only by the female after the second egg is laid; the male assists in feeding the nestlings (Henry 1998, Henry and Gehlbach 1999). Incubation lasts 21-24 days (Ligon 1968, Muller 1970).

Hatching success of eggs varies from 95 percent in canyon riparian habitat in Arizona to 38-85 percent in Chihuahuan upland desert. One clutch is produced annually, but depredated eggs are replaced. Fledging success in natural nests ranges from 94 percent in Arizona canyon riparian habitat to 78-97 percent (mean 90 percent) in Chihuahuan upland desert (Henry and Gehlbach 1999). In Texas, fledging success ranges from 96-100 percent in nest boxes (McKinney 1996). Fledglings generally leave the nest 28-33 days after hatching. Females reproduce annually beginning the year after hatching. Reproductive productivity is enhanced during years of higher rainfall and warmer temperatures due to an increased prey base (Henry and Gehlbach 1999).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodDesert
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5B
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS4BYes
New MexicoS3B,S3NYes
ArizonaS5Yes
CaliforniaS1Yes
NevadaSHYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownUnknown
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownUnknown

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Roadless Areas (8)
Arizona (7)
AreaForestAcres
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
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