Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl. Underground nester , Athene cunicularia. , Unlike most owls, a burrowing owl is active both day and night. This small long-legged owl uses abandoned burrows of prairie dogs, tortoises, and ground squirrels for shelter. These tunnels provide protection from weather and predators, and for raising young. The underground nesting chamber is lined with grass, feathers, and animal dung. When hunting, a burrowing owl chases down grasshoppers and beetles on the ground, grabs large insects from the air, and will hover before swooping down on small rodents, birds, and reptiles. If disturbed in its burrow, the owl makes a sound that mimics the buzzing of a rattlesnake., Burrowing owls are found on the grasslands and open areas of southern Canada, the western United States, Florida, and south through Central and South America. In certain areas, their numbers have declined due to habitat loss, pesticide poisoning, and the eradication of prairie dogs. The owls are endangered in Canada and are a species of special concern throughout much of the U.S. and Mexico. Burrowing owls that breed in the northern part of their range will migrate south for the winter.