The Greenwood Elves don’t view themselves as being separate from the ‘lesser’ forest creatures that live in Greenwood the Great. To be honest, the thought has never even occurred to them to do so. They don’t view themselves as better, or smarter, or “above”, the rest of the animals, truly believing that every single squirrel, bird, lizard, elk, wolf, ect has just as much right to live a good life among the forest as they do.
To them, a “Forest Creature” = Any animal that lives in the forest.
Greenwood Elves live in the forest = They are forest creatures.
It's simple to them. They don’t even think that it’s a strange or odd thing to say most of the time. The rest of the world, however….
*At some point during the Fellowship's Quest (perhaps when Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are among the Rohirrim)*
Legolas: The other forest creatures have come to depend upon us to help heal wounds that were inflicted unnaturally. Arrows, venom wounds, false sicknesses, that sort of thing.
Gimli, snickering slightly: The OTHER forest creatures, eh?
Aragorn: I think you might have meant to word that differently, my friend.
Legolas: I absolutely did not.
Aragorn: The way that you worded it, in Westron, means that you are calling yourself and your people ‘Forest Animals.’
Legolas, bewildered: Yes. And?
Aragorn and Gimli, exchanging confuses looks: …..
Legolas: I do not understand what has confused you both so much.
Gimli: Lad… when others speak about ‘Forest Animals’ and “Forest Creatures” they mean badgers, foxes, chipmunks, that sort of thing.
Gimli: You are not a badger or a fox or a chipmunk.
Legolas: …. How astute of you.
Gimli: So you are not a forest creature…
Legolas: Do I not live in a forest?
Aragorn: Obviously, the ‘Woodelves’ live in the woods.
Legolas: Then I continue to not understand the confusion.
Gimli: Are you telling me that your people think of yourselves as no different from a hedgehog?
Legolas: Of course we do. We aren't stupid.
Legolas: We don't have quills nor is our preferred diet composed mostly of bugs, and while I’ve always found Hedghogs to be smart little fellows, they aren’t near as good with their hands as we are.
Gimli: I can't tell if he’s trying to make a joke or not.
Aragorn: …. I don’t think that he is….
Legolas: What? You think yourselves better than a Hedghog?
Gimli: I don’t know if ‘better’ is the right word.. but … I do know between me and a Hedghog only one of us can build impressive structures.
Legolas: So you’re better than a Hedghog but not a Beaver? Is that what I am hearing?