Elf Owl
Micrathene whitneyi
Owls (Strigidae) · Strigiformes (Strigiformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Elf Owl with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio | 2 |
| Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum | 2 |
| Flammulated Owl Psiloscops flammeolus | 1 |
| Western Screech-Owl Megascops kennicottii | 1 |
| Mottled Owl Strix virgata | 1 |
Family
The true owls or typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls and bay owls (Tytonidae). This large family comprises 230 living or recently extinct species in 23 genera. The Strigidae owls have a cosmopolitan distribution and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Order
Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Exceptions include the diurnal northern hawk-owl and the gregarious burrowing owl. Owls are divided into two families: the true (or typical) owl family, Strigidae, and the barn owl and bay owl family, Tytonidae.