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elf owl
noun
: a very small insectivorous owl (Micrathene whitneyi) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that roosts and nests in the cavities of trees and saguaro cacti
Examples of elf owl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As Mark mentioned in the video, elf owls are not naturally aggressive and are considered docile.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Hammond retrieved the elf owl from a home in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley last year after a woman called Animal Experts to report hearing noises in her attic.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Smallest Owl: Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) (Credit: RoSy76/Shutterstock) Holding the title of the world’s tiniest owl with its teeny talons is the elf owl.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1887, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near elf owl
Cite this Entry
“Elf owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elf%20owl. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
elf owl
noun
: a very small insect-eating owl that rests, sleeps, and nests in the holes of trees and saguaro cacti of desert areas of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico
More from Merriam-Webster on elf owl
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elf owl
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