Today we are going to tell you about an adorable little owl watching from a hole in a sycamore tree. This elf owl is who peeps outside when nightfall arrives on a dry river bottom in West Texas. Also, the elf owl is considered to be the smallest living owl in the world.
This owl weighs less than an ounce and a half and stands over 6 inches tall. Indeed, technically this owl is similar to a tiny golf ball. Apparently, the elf owl is a cold-blooded hunter. At nightfall, this bird comes out of its home to hunt for prey such as beetles, spiders, crickets, mice, and even lizards.
These merciless hunters are not even afraid of preying on poisonous creatures like scorpions. After the stings are removed, the scorpions are stored in the nest to be eaten when needed. You’ll find these elf owls if you travel to the wood and desert cactus environments located in the Southwest part of Texas and Southern Arizona. Commonly, they live in the woodpecker holes made in the saguaro cactus in desert areas.
Although they may seem quiet in appearance, they are undoubtedly deadly. As the air flows through their wings a rushing sound is made. Also, In the spring, females lay 1-4 eggs and these hatch in three weeks. Early on, the father elf owl goes hunting for food for the mother and chicks, but after a some, the mother bird join the owl in the hunting.
When attacked by predators, these birds try to escape instead of attacking in self-defense. In addition, they even have to pretend to be dead to avoid the threat of predators.
“During the month of October, elf owls leave the United States and migrate to Mexico because of the warmer latitude there and the abundance of insects. When springtime arrives in Southwest America, these cute little owls return to start the nesting season.”
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