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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
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 Nov. 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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