Carolina Raptor Center - Raptor Species: Burrowing Owl

Etymology: athene (Greek) - named after Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom, arts and warfare, she was often depicted with an owl on her shoulder;cunicularia (Latin) - "a miner or burrower"

Description: This small owl has long legs that are sparsely feathered below the tibiotarsal joint. They have a round head lacking ear tufts, with a distinct oval facial ruff, framed by a broad, buffy-white eyebrow-to-malar stripe on the interior part. The irises are usually bright lemon yellow. The wings are relatively long and rounded, with 10 brown and buffy-white barred primaries and the tail is short. The throat and undertail coverts are white; the remainder of underparts of adults is buffy with broad brown barring on both sides. The females are generally darker than males, particularly in worn plumage.

Flight: The burrowing owl exhibits brief undulating flights from ground to perch. They will hover while hunting and often will stand on road to hunt at night. Vehicle collisions are common.

Voice: The burrowing owl has many vocalizations. The male’s primary vocalization is a coo-coo, used for both courting and defense. Females produce a rasping sound when responding to the male. Young give a “rattlesnake rasp” call, an acoustical mimic of a rattlesnake rattle, which may deter potential predators from entering burrows.

Habitat: Unique among North American owls in many respects, they are nocturnal, but will be seen during day. Frequently nests in loose colonies in suburban and farmyard environments. Preferred habitats include dry, open, short-grass, treeless plains, and they are often associated with burrowing mammals. While the western BUOW seems to need nest burrows, the Florida owls usually excavate their own burrow so burrowing mammals are unnecessary.

Distribution: It is a ground dwelling denizen of western grasslands and deserts and of the Florida Peninsula and adjacent Caribbean islands. Within the broad range limits in western North America, their occurrence is variable in open, well-drained grasslands, steppes, deserts, prairies, and agricultural lands. Also locally distributed throughout suitable habitat in Central and South America, and on Cuba and Bahamas. Most of the North American population is migratory or disperses widely to some extent.

Nesting: Both males and females can breed at 1 year old, and they are a predominately monogamous species. Western owls do not have permanent pair bonds, but the Florida owl exhibits strong pair fidelity. When nesting, they most often use burrows dug by mammals but excavate holes where burrowing mammals are absent. Both adults renovate and maintain burrows by digging. They kick backward with feet and dig with beak. They may line the burrow entrance and nest cavity with dried cow or horse manure, believed to mask the owl’s scent; also with feathers, grass, and divots from a golf course. Lays 6 - 11 (usually 7 - 9) smooth white eggs. Incubation, by the female, lasts 28 - 30 days. The male feeds the female in morning and evening. Young emerge from burrows at 2 weeks of age, where they wait for food. Short flights begin at 4 weeks and the juveniles fly well by the sixth week but remain near burrow. Juveniles leave the nest after about 44 days, but will often stay in nest area and join adults on foraging flights. They begin chasing insects and using satellite burrows at 7 - 8 weeks old.

Food: Burrowing owls are opportunistic feeders; primarily arthropods, small mammals, and birds; amphibians and reptiles also reported. Insects are often taken during daylight, small mammals taken more often after dark. They hunt by walking, hopping, or running along the ground; flying from a perch; hovering, particularly over tall vegetation; and fly-catching in the air. Prey items include: scorpions, beetles, locusts, and small rodents, crickets, meadow voles. Birds (Horned Larks), frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, turtles, and crustaceans have also been recorded.