A burrowing owl cocks its head slightly to the right as it stares straight into the camera

Burrowing owl

The ground owl
Type
flamingo

Birds

Area
North, Central, and South America
The Americas
Endangered Status

Endangered

facts

size
7.5 to 9.5
inches in height
A soccer ball is 9 inches high.
Burrowing owl compared in size to a soccer ball
food
insects
and more
Carnivore
meat

They also eat small mammals like mice, some reptiles, and amphibians.

habitat
grassland
Grassland habitat

description

Burrowing owl inside its dirt burrow, popping its head out.

Whoooo's special?

This small bird, found in North and South America, is different from most other owls. While other owls are active only at night, a burrowing owl hunts during the day as well as at night. Instead of nesting in a hollow high up in a tree, it nests in an underground burrow. But it doesn't dig the hole itself! Burrowing owls take over holes and tunnels dug by ground squirrels, prairie dogs, armadillos, tortoises, and skunks.

Burrowing owl standing outside it's burrow, one wing stretched out downward

The best nest

When they move into an abandoned burrow, these little owls do some "decorating." They gather grass, feathers, and even chunks of animal dung and line their underground home with it. They also leave some just outside the entrance. Biologists think the items might help keep the inside of the tunnel at just the right temperature. The dung outside would attract insects that the owls can eat.

Burrowing owl chick

Growing up owl

A female burrowing owl lays about 3 to 12 eggs in her burrow. She sits on the eggs for about 1 month until they hatch. Her mate stands guard outside the burrow and brings her food. The young chicks stay in the burrow for about 2 weeks before they start stepping outside. Their parents bring them insects to eat and practice pouncing on. When they are about 6 weeks old, the little owlets begin to fly and hunt their own meals.

Burrowing owl sitting on a chain link fence with a green tag on his right leg

Hold that habitat!

Burrowing owls live in wide, flat habitat like grasslands and even fields near cities. When parking lots, shopping centers, and big blocks of houses are built, they may lose their homes and hunting grounds. Pesticides hurt these birds, too, because they eat insects.

San Diego Zoo Global gives a hoot about these birds. We have a group of scientists working on understanding what burrowing owls need in their habitat. We will be able to use this information to help protect habitat for these tiny predators.

Quiz

Burrowing owls nest in holes in:
trees
the ground