Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia · Bird, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Strigidae, order Strigiformes, class Aves
Animal Category
Bird of Prey
Breed / Variety
Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern globally, but populations are declining in many parts of North America due to habitat loss and rodent control programs, leading to local endangered or threatened listings
About This Creature
Small, long-legged owl measuring about 19-25 cm in length with a wingspan of 50-60 cm and weighing 140-240 g. Features prominent bright yellow eyes, white eyebrows, a round head without ear tufts, and sandy-brown plumage heavily spotted and barred with white
Physical Characteristics
Unusually long legs adapted for running on the ground, sharp talons, short tail, rounded wings, a hooked grey beak, and distinctive white facial feathering forming a collar-like pattern
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal and crepuscular activity patterns, highly social compared to other owls, lives in underground burrows often excavated by mammals like prairie dogs, communicates with a variety of barks and coos, bobs its head when alarmed
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
North and South America, ranging from western Canada and the United States down through Central America to southern South America
Habitat
Open grasslands, deserts, agricultural lands, and prairies; terrestrial and fossorial (ground-dwelling/burrowing)
Diet & Nutrition
Carnivore/Insectivore; feeds primarily on large insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, as well as small rodents, lizards, and small birds, hunting mainly by pouncing from a perch or running on the ground
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan is around 6 to 8 years in the wild, up to 10 years or more in captivity; preyed upon by badgers, coyotes, snakes, and larger hawks; lays clutches of 6-12 eggs in underground nests
Special Characteristics
Unique among most owls for being active during daylight hours and living underground in burrows; exhibits a 'defensive screech' that mimics a rattlesnake to deter predators inside its burrow
Ecological Information
Acts as an important pest controller by consuming large numbers of insects and rodents; plays a key role in grassland food webs and relies on symbiotic relationships with burrow-digging mammals