Burrowing Owl
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Athene
Species: cunicularia
**Burrowing Owl Audio Below**
(The volume will need to be turned up a little to hear this)
Description
-
Length: 9.5"
-
Wing span: 21"
-
Weight: 5.0oz (155 grams)
-
Small brown and white owl
-
no ear tufts, long legs and short tail
-
Spotted on the front and barred on the back
-
Bright yellow eyes
-
White eyebrows, throat and under tail
-
No differences in plumage between the males and females although the female generally darker
Factoids:
- True to its name, the Burrowing Owl nests in a hole in the ground. Although it is quite willing to dig its own burrow, it often uses one already provided by prairie dogs, skunks, armadillos, or tortoises
- The Burrowing Owl appears to be diurnal hunting all day and night long, being most active in the morning and evening, It catches more insects during the day and more mammals at night
- The Burrowing Owl collects mammal dung and puts it in and around its burrow, the dung attracts dung beetles, which the owl then captures and eats
- They catch food with their feet, hunts by walking, hopping, or running along the ground, as well as by flying from perch
All photographs and audio clips are ©Jamie Mullin 2006
Sources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology & The Sibley Guide to Birds.
 |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |