Burrowing Owl

BY LENNA

 Burrowing Owl

Have you ever heard of an owl that lives in a burrow? The burrowing owl is a very small and unique owl that lives in burrows in the Americas. These owls are very special because they are one of the smallest owl species, they are very different from their relatives, and they even like the rain.  

The burrowing owl's scientific name is Athene cunicularia. The burrowing owl is sandy colored and like most other owls they have bright yellow eyes. They live in the grasslands and deserts of the south west of the North American continent.  The owls are 7 ½ in to 10 in tall which is about the size of an american robin.  Their  wingspan is 21 to 24 in and they weigh about 4 ½ to 9 oz the males and females are about the same size (Burrowing Owl Conservation). The burrowing owl will use the abandoned home of other animals or dig their own burrow. They will also use man made materials like pipes. The burrowing owl can live up to 8 years. 

Burrowing owls will live in colonies that can get very large.  They will often mate for life. Mating starets in early spring they will either live in the colonies or live alone. A female has 2-12 eggs at one time and incubates them for 29 days. The babies are fledged at 6 weeks and are sexually mature at one year (Burrowing Owl Conservation). The young are very playful; they are lighter in color then the adults. There are twenty two subspecies of burrowing owls that range throughout the Americas.  

Burrowing owls are very different from other owl species. They are not nocturnal, which is rare in owls. They can stand more carbon dioxide than other owls, scientists think this is because they live in dans unlike other owls.  Although they can fly and do so to migrate they are often considered less efficient flyers than other owls due to the fact they spend most of the time on the ground (Owl research institute). Even though the burrowing owl has some differing qualities then other owls they still eat the same as other owl species. 

Burrowing owls are carnivores; they eat mostly bugs and sometimes rodents, reptiles, and other birds. The burrowing owl predators include coyotes, birds of prey, feral cats, and humans. Humans affect them because they build on the land where the owls nest. Burrowing owls are considered low concern for conservation but humans do impact their environment a lot (All About Birds). Even though they are low concern the burrowing owl is losing habitat to humans. 

Burrowing owls have a lot of interesting qualities. Burrowing owls are famous for their bobbing heads but this is a sign that they are scared. People that see them bobbing their heads take photos but this is what is often scaring them.  The baby birds have a very cool way to scare off danger; they will mimic a rattlesnake to scare off danger.  Rain seems to exit the birds. They will run around in the rain shaking their feathers and flapping their wings. This is a way for them to clean their feathers (Owl research institute). 

The burrowing owl is an interesting owl that lives in the Americas. Even though the burrowing owls are of low concern, we should still make sure we protect them.  We don't lose this very cool and special creature. 

Works Cited

“Burrowing Owl.” Animals, 20 Sep. 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/burrowing-owl.

“Burrowing Owl Facts – Burrowing Owl Conservation Network ǀ Saving Burrowing Owls and Habitat.” Burrowing Owl Conservation Network, burrowingowlconservation.org/burrowing_owl_facts/.

“Burrowing Owl I Owl Research Institute.” Owlresearchinstitute, www.owlresearchinstitute.org/copy-of-burrowing-owl.

“Burrowing Owl Overview, All about Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Allaboutbirds.org, 2014, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/overview.