Bird
Athene cunicularia floridana
Athene cunicularia floridanaAlso known as Ground Owl, Prairie Owl, Cuckoo Owl, Billy Owl
Burrowing owls are atypical raptors that spend most of their daylight hours standing sentinel outside subterranean tunnels, frequently bobbing up and down when agitated. Rather than hunting strictly by night from high perches, they sprint across open terrain on long legs to pursue beetles, grasshoppers, and small rodents. Family groups live in loose colonies where young owlets mimic the rattle of a rattlesnake from deep inside the nest to deter predators.
DiurnalGround-nestingCarnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasshoppers and beetles, Deer mouse, Western fence lizard
Predators
- Coyote
- American badger
- Domestic cat
ThreatsHabitat conversion, vehicle collisions, eradication of burrowing mammals, and pesticides
HabitatsGrasslands, open prairies, agricultural pastures, deserts, and coastal scrub
Life span6–9 years in the wild
Classification
- FamilyStrigidae
- SpeciesAthene cunicularia floridana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May peck or talons-scratch defensively if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Look for small, long-legged brown-and-buff owls standing upright on earthen mounds in wide-open, treeless terrain.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a perimeter of at least 50 meters, never step onto burrow aprons, and keep domestic dogs leashed nearby.
Responsible observation
- Keep Your Distance: Use a spotting scope or telephoto lens to avoid flushing them from their burrows.
- Watch the Ground: Avoid walking near occupied burrow entrances to prevent tunnel collapse.
- Stay in Vehicles: Roadside birds tolerate parked vehicles far better than approaching pedestrians.
Burrow Provider (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonathan Eisen · cc-by
Predator Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Максат79 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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