Burrowing owl

Athene cunicularia
Species Status: Endangered in Canada
Action Required: Conservation breeding, reintroduction, and translocation

The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

With fewer than 1,000 pairs thought to exist in this country, the burrowing owl is one of the most endangered birds in Canada’s prairie grasslands.

Characteristics

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is one of the smallest owl species in Canada, it is usually spotted on the ground where it blends into grass or sand. It is distinguished by its very long legs, short tail, and its round head with a white eyebrow that stretches across both eyes. Burrowing owls are also known as “Howdy Owls” because of their habit of bobbing up and down in a bowing motion, a behaviour that likely allows them to determine distance from multiple viewpoints.

The male and female look almost identical, both having brown feathers with white spots on the back, very mottled brown chest, and bright yellow eyes. The main difference is that the male is slightly larger (about 3%) than the female which is unusual for raptors. Raptors usually experience “reverse sexual dimorphism” where the female is larger than the male. In this case both the males and females range in height from 19-25cm.

Similar looking species

  • The adult Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
  • The adult/immature Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
  • The adult Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Habitat

Burrowing owls can be found in prairie grasslands. They nest in burrows dug by animals such as ground squirrels, badgers and prairie dogs (this is where they get their name from) which are usually in open areas with low ground cover. In these areas they find rodents, large insects (such as crickets, beetles and grasshoppers), and small reptiles and amphibians, which provides abundant food to support family groups. During the colder season, burrowing owls may migrate to warmer areas or stay warm and active in their burrows.

Range

Historically, they were found in the grasslands of central and southwestern Canada, central and southern United States and Mexico, and South America. However, burrowing owls have virtually disappeared from Manitoba, and only a small population remains in BC due to our efforts to re-establish them. Throughout their remaining range, they exist in greatly diminished numbers in scattered nesting sites.

Biology

Age of maturation is reached at 10 months for both males and females and can live as long as 8 years in the wild. Burrowing owls will breed sometime between February and May depending on their geographical region, and they will typically lay 2 to 12 eggs per clutch. The female will incubate the eggs and take care of the brooding in the burrow while the male brings enough food for his mate and the chicks. Around 44 to 53 days after hatching, the young burrowing owls fledge. Young owls in the nest make a rattling sound similar to rattlesnakes to ward off predators. They are nocturnal, although unlike other owls, they are also active to a certain extent during the day.

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main reasons driving species decline, as shortgrass prairie habitats are converted to crop production. Efforts by farmers to reduce the numbers of ground squirrels, prairie dogs and insects means there are fewer burrows available for nesting and less prey to feed on. Moreover, the use of pesticides to eliminate insects, ground squirrels and foxes can poison owls when they eat the carcasses. Of particular concern is the use of Carbofuran, a potent insecticide used to control grasshoppers, one of the owls’ primary food sources. Badgers, foxes, skunks, weasels and snakes can also greatly reduce nesting success by preying on eggs and young, while coyotes and red-tailed hawks prey on adults.

Recovery

Recommended Recovery Actions

The federal Recovery Strategy for burrowing owls calls for a number of conservation measures, including stewarding habitat, discouraging the extermination of prey species, and using predator-proof artificial nest burrows. Breeding owls to release into the wild is recognized as essential to re-establishing populations that have disappeared within their historical range.

What we are doing

Find out how Wildlife Preservation Canada helps save Canada’s birds, including burrowing owls, and how you can make a difference.

Visit the project page

What you can do

Protect grassland habitat on your property, avoid plowing or overgrazing. Never use pesticides that eliminate insects or rodents. Slow down while driving in prairie regions, especially during spring and fall migration. Report burrowing owl sightings to conservation organizations. Support legislation protecting grasslands from wind and solar development. Most importantly, support organizations working on captive breeding and habitat restoration.

FAQs

A: Some burrowing owls can dig their own burrows, using their feet and beaks to excavate! In Canada, burrowing owls depend more on burrows created by other animals like prairie dogs, ground squirrels, badgers, and coyotes, or even man-made artificial burrows. When prairie dog colonies are eradicated as “pests,” the owls can lose their homes. This reliance on other species makes them incredibly vulnerable to prairie dog control programs.

A: They collect bottle caps, cigarette butts, foil, and paper scraps around burrow entrances. Scientists believe this signals occupancy to other owls, essentially claiming territory without aggressive confrontations.

A: Because Canadian populations live at the northern edge of the species’ range where winters are impossibly harsh. They can’t survive frozen prairie in winter, so they migrate south to Texas and Mexico. However, migration routes expose them to vehicle strikes, unfamiliar terrain, and predators. Many birds never complete the round trip.