When most people think about owls they think of massive winged wise creatures.

But that’s not the case when you come across an Elf Owl.

The Elf Owl looks like an elf, but it’s no bigger than a sparrow.

This tiny bird’s body is only six inches tall and weighs less than 1,5 ounces, which gives them the look of a fluffy brown golf ball.

You can find this little species in forests and desert cactus environments in southwest Texas and southern Arizona. It often stays in woodpecker holes in tall saguaro cactus until the night falls down.

When the sun sets, Elf Owls leave their holes to hunt beetles, crickets, and spiders. Sometimes, they also catch lizards, scorpions, and mice. Don’t be fooled by their seemingly adorable and harmless appearance. Like other members of the owl family, these little birds are callous hunters.