Photo © Rob Curtis

ELF OWL

This tiny owl, almost sparrow-sized, occurs in West Texas. It’s roughly in a tie with a South American species, the long-whiskered owlet, as our planet’s smallest owl at just 5.7 inches tall and 44 grams (less than 1/10 pound). This cavity-loving owl enjoys old woodpecker cavities carved into telephone poles or fence posts. To me, their calls sound like a small lap dog attempting to bark.