North Coast Visitor: The Burrowing Owl

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small owl species known for its distinctive appearance and unique nesting habits. Typically standing about 7 to 10 inches tall, burrowing owls have long legs and a rounded head with striking yellow eyes. These owls are primarily found in open grasslands, deserts, and other dry landscapes of North and South America.

Though not normally an inhabitant locally, sightings outside the burrowing owl’s breeding and habitat grounds are noted on allaboutbirds.com.

What sets them apart is their preference for nesting underground, often utilizing abandoned burrows dug by mammals like prairie dogs or ground squirrels. Burrowing owls are highly adaptable and can be seen in urban areas, where they may nest in burrows they excavate themselves. They are skilled hunters, relying on a diet that includes insects, small mammals, and occasionally small birds. When food is plentiful, burrowing owls are known to store a large cache of food in their underground burrow during their incubation and brooding periods.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect the burrowing owl, as its populations face threats from habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and collisions with vehicles, in correlation to the decline of prairie dogs and ground squirrels.

Local wildlife photographer, Ann Constantino, shares stunning photos of wildlife on the north coast through her Facebook page and Flickr account.