Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Unlike most owls, these owls are often active during the day, but like many other kinds of owls, though, they do most of their hunting during dusk and dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage. Living in open grasslands as opposed to forests, the burrowing owl has developed longer legs that enable it to sprint, as well as fly, when hunting.

General Information:

Common Name:Burrowing Owl
Scientific Name:Athene cunicularia
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:Strigiformes
Family:Tytonidae

Description

Distribution

Burrowing owls range from the southern portions of the western Canadian provinces through southern Mexico and western Central America. They are also found in Florida and many Caribbean islands. In South America, they are patchy in the northwest and through the Andes but widely distributed from southern Brazil to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Burrowing owls are year-round residents in most of their range. Birds that breed in Canada and the northern U.S. usually migrate south to Mexico and the southern U.S. during winter months.

Habitat

These owls inhabit grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation.

Mating Habits

Burrowing owls are monogamous; pairs may stay together for one breeding season or mate for life. Occasionally males may be polygynous and have two mates. The breeding season begins in late March or April in North America. The female will lay a clutch, which can consist of 4 to 12 eggs (usually 9). She will then incubate the eggs for 3 to 4 weeks while the male brings her food. After the eggs hatch, both parents will feed the young. Four weeks after hatching, the owlets can make short flights and begin leaving the nest burrow. The parents will still help feed their young for 1 to 3 months until they are ready to hunt their own meals.

Diet

Burrowing owls are carnivores. They mainly feed on large insects and small rodents but also amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other owls, they also eat some fruits and seeds.

Threats

These birds are endangered in Canada and threatened in Mexico.
They are a state-threatened species in Colorado and Florida.
The major reasons for declining populations in North America are control programs for prairie dogs and loss of habitat.
Other important threats include collisions with vehicles when crossing roads, the use of pesticides, shooting, and predation by feral and domestic cats, dogs, coyotes, and snakes.

IUCN Status

Least Concern