# Burrowing Owl (*Athene cunicularia*)

The burrowing owl (*Athene cunicularia*) is a bird of the family Strigidae, in the order Strigiformes.

> The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl of the Americas that nests and roosts in underground burrows, often dug by prairie dogs, ground squirrels or tortoises. It is active by day, has bright yellow eyes and no ear tufts, and weighs 127–255 g. It hunts insects and small rodents. Overall it is listed as Least Concern, although some regional populations have declined.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN-style):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Open country from south-western Canada and the western United States through Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean to southern South America.
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/burrowing-owl/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Strigiformes
- **Family:** Strigidae
- **Genus:** Athene

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Athene cunicularia |
| Diet | Insects, small mammals, lizards and small birds |
| Habitat | Grassland, prairie, desert, farmland and open urban land |
| Size | 19–25 cm tall; wingspan 53–61 cm |
| Weight | 127–255 g |
| Lifespan | 6–8 years in the wild; longest known 11 years |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025) |

## Life underground

Burrowing owls nest and shelter in holes in the ground. In North America they mostly take over burrows dug by prairie dogs, ground squirrels or tortoises; in Florida and much of South America they often dig their own. Living underground protects eggs and chicks from heat and predators.

## Identification

This is a small, sandy-brown owl spotted and barred with white, with a round head, no ear tufts, bright yellow eyes under white 'eyebrows' and long, bare legs. It often stands upright on the ground or a post near its burrow and bobs its head when alarmed.

## Hunting by day and night

Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active in daylight, especially around dawn and dusk. They catch beetles, grasshoppers and other insects on the ground or in the air, and take mice, voles, lizards and frogs.

## Status

BirdLife International lists the burrowing owl as Least Concern (2025), estimating 1 to 10 million mature birds and a stable trend overall. In parts of Canada and the western United States, numbers have fallen sharply as prairie was ploughed and burrowing mammals were poisoned.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do burrowing owls dig their own burrows?

Some do, especially in Florida and South America, but in much of North America they reuse burrows made by prairie dogs, ground squirrels or tortoises.

### Are burrowing owls active during the day?

Yes. They are often seen in daylight standing at the burrow entrance, and they hunt by day as well as at night.

### How big is a burrowing owl?

Only 19–25 cm tall and 127–255 g, with a wingspan of 53–61 cm.

### Where do burrowing owls live?

In open country across the Americas, from western Canada and the United States through Central America and the Caribbean to southern South America.

## Sources

- [BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/burrowing-owl-athene-cunicularia)
- [Animal Diversity Web: Athene cunicularia. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Athene_cunicularia/)
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
- [Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/)

## Help protect the Burrowing Owl

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/burrowing-owl/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.