Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi)
Scientific Name: Micrathene whitneyi (Cooper, 1861)
Common Names: Elf Owl [English], Tecolote enano [Spanish]
French: Chevêchette des saguaros German: Elfenkauz Spanish: Mochuelo de los saguaros
Taxonomy: Athene whitneyi J. G. Cooper, 1861, Fort Mojave, Arizona, USA.
Subspecies and Distribution
M. w. whitneyi (J. G. Cooper, 1861) – breeds SW USA (extreme S Nevada, SE California, C Arizona, SW New Mexico and SW Texas) S to NW & NC Mexico (Sonora, NE Chihuahua, N Coahuila); in winter to W & SC Mexico.
M. w. idonea (Ridgway, 1914) – SC USA (S Texas) to NE & C Mexico (N Nuevo León, N Tamaulipas; Puebla, W Oaxaca); northern populations migrate S in winter.
M. w. sanfordi (Ridgway, 1914) – S Baja California (NW Mexico).
M. w. graysoni Ridgway, 1886 – Socorro I, off W Mexico (possibly extinct). |
