Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl is one of the smaller owls measuring just 10 inches in length. Its back, the upper part of its wings, and head are a sandy brown. Its chest and belly are a light cream color with brown barring. The females are usually darker than the males but that may be due to the fact that the male spends more time out of the burrow and in the sun.

As with most owls, the Burrowing Owl has a facial disc but it lacks the ear tufts. Its white eyebrows are prominent as is the white chin patch. Its eyes and beak are yellow. Their long legs are gray and partially feathered.

Juveniles are similar in appearance, but they lack the barring on their chest and belly. They take on an adult-like plumage after their first molt.

The Burrowing Owl can be found throughout North and South America. They prefer the open grasslands, deserts and prairies. Their habitat is similar to that of the prairie dog. As long as the area is relatively free of vegetation and dry, the Burrowing Owls will settle in. They roost in burrows and are active daytime hunters.

As with many birds, the Burrowing Owl's courtship ritual begins with the male putting on aerial displays for his intended. He will rise quickly, hover for a few seconds, and then drop back down again. After repeating this several times, he may circle around a few times before dropping back to the ground. Once on the ground he may flash his white marking, coo, bow, scratch and nip. If the display doesn't net the desired results, he'll go through the whole process again.

They nest underground. More often than not, they will claim a burrow abandoned by a prairie dog or other ground dwelling mammal. If the soil conditions are right and no other burrow can be found, they will dig their own. The pair usually returns to the same area and often the same burrow year after year.

Before the eggs are laid, the burrow is lined with an assortment of dry material such as leaves and feathers. During the nesting period, the male usually takes up residence in a nearby burrow leaving the female alone to brood.

The female will lay an egg each day for 6 to 9 days, and then incubate them for another 28 to 30 days. The male will bring food to his mate and will stand guard over the burrow. Once the eggs have hatched, the male assumes the 'child rearing' responsibilities. Two weeks after hatching the young are often seen waiting for their lunch at the burrow's entrance. They will not leave the nest for another month.

The Burrowing Owl's diet changes depending on the time of year and the availability of prey. A large portion of their diet is comprised of beetles and grasshoppers. They also prey on small mammals such as rats, mice, gophers and squirrels. Other prey includes snakes, frogs, scorpions, rabbits, bats and birds.

The Burrowing Owl is a versatile hunter. They will chase down prey on the ground, catch insects and birds in the air, swoop down plucking up its prey while in flight, or sit on a perch and wait for the unsuspecting to move into striking range.

They primarily hunt at dusk and at dawn but will hut throughout the day and night if they have young to feed. While they are primarily carnivores, they will eat fruits and seeds if the need and the opportunity arises.

The Burrowing Owl will hoot a who who who typical of many owls. They will hoot when defending their territory or when trying to attract a mate. They make other sounds as well. They will chatter and scream, and the young will hiss like a rattlesnake when frightened.

The Burrowing Owl can live for up to 9 years in the wild but are often killed by vehicles when crossing roads, preyed on by larger owls, falcons, skunks, cats and dogs. They are listed as a species of concern in most of the states where they reside.

Little Brothers
The Barred Owl
The Common Barn Owl
The Eastern Screech-owl


Big Brothers
The Great Grey Owl
The Great Horned Owl
The Snowy Owl

Dunn, J.L. & Alderfer, J., Editors. 2006. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition. National Geographic Society.

Lynch, W. 2007. Owls of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.

Carolina Raptor Center
Western North Carolina Nature Center


Pictures used on this lens are either from my own collection or from Wikipedia.