Burrowing owl
A small owl that nests underground in old prairie-dog burrows and hunts in daylight across Western grasslands, unlike most owls.
Burrowing owl at a glance
Athene cunicularia BUR-oh-ing owl; Athene cunicularia is uh-THEE-nee kyoo-nik-yoo-LAIR-ee-uh
- Type
- Bird · owls
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Size
- About 9 inches tall, roughly the height of a soda can, and weighing about 6 ounces, close to a stick of butter.
- Lifespan
- Average 6 to 8 years in the wild; the oldest known wild bird lived almost 10 years.
- Conservation
- Least concern
Eats grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, mice, voles
It hunts on the ground and in short, low flights, mostly at dawn and dusk, catching large insects in summer and switching to small rodents like mice and voles year-round.
Should you worry?
Burrowing owls are harmless to people. If you hear a rattling hiss from a burrow, back away calmly. It may be an owl protecting its nest, not a rattlesnake, but treating every burrow-hiss as a warning to give space is the safe habit either way. Never reach into a burrow.
Stop at a prairie-dog town in the middle of the afternoon and something at one of the burrows is standing upright, staring back with wide yellow eyes, in full sun. Every other owl nearby is asleep right now. This one nests underground and hunts mostly at dawn and dusk, but during the day it just stands guard at the door.
Get too close and it drops low, bobs, and lets out a rattling hiss close enough to a rattlesnake’s rattle to make most animals think twice about reaching into that hole. Researchers who compared recordings found the two sounds share enough pitch and rhythm to support the idea that the owl’s warning call evolved to borrow a snake’s reputation.
The bluff works because it is cheap and the alternative is expensive: a badger or snake that pushes past a hiss might find eggs, but one that backs off never learns the owl wasn’t the real thing. Next time a rattling hiss comes from a hole in the grass at Badlands or Wind Cave, check the entrance before you check your instincts.
Did you know?
- A burrowing owl's warning hiss is close enough to a rattlesnake's rattle in sound structure that scientists believe it evolved specifically to scare off animals that would otherwise dig into the burrow.
- Burrowing owls do not dig their own homes at most parks; they move into burrows already dug by prairie dogs and stand guard at the entrance.
- The species is endangered in Canada and considered threatened in Colorado and Florida, even though its global population is large enough to be rated least concern overall.
Common questions
Why do burrowing owls hiss like a rattlesnake?
Scientists think the hiss evolved to sound like a rattlesnake's rattle, scaring off animals that might otherwise dig into the owl's burrow.
Do burrowing owls dig their own burrows?
Usually not. Most move into burrows already dug by prairie dogs and other burrowing animals.
Are burrowing owls active at night like other owls?
No. They are often seen standing at their burrow entrance in daylight, which is unusual for an owl.
What do burrowing owls eat?
Mostly large insects like grasshoppers and beetles in summer, and small rodents like mice and voles year-round.
What eats a burrowing owl?
Hawks, falcons, and eagles catch them from the air. On the ground, coyotes, badgers, bobcats, foxes, skunks, weasels, and pet cats and dogs all take owls or their eggs.