Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi)

Tucson Arizona

“The Elf Owl is a tiny, short-tailed, owl of the arid southwestern United States and Mexico. They have round heads with no ear tufts. Plumage is brownish-grey overall, and is washed with white on the belly and cinnamon on the face.
A nocturnal bird. They sit fairly erect and have a knock-kneed stance. Flight is somewhat bat-like, but not as erratic. When danger approaches, an Elf Owl straightens its body, covers its lighter underparts with one wing, then turns its head and peers over the bent wing with the top of its eyes. They are not very aggressive, preferring to fly away rather than fight.”
Source: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Micrathe...