Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

Explore this bird

Identification

24 cm (9") Western United States, southwestern Canada. Open country, golf courses, road sides, airports, prairie dog-towns. May nest in colonies.

Ground dwelling owl with long legs. Stands erect on ground or posts.

Hovers when hunting.

Song: cackling alarm call imitates a rattlesnake, a soft 2-note "coo" at night.

Details in the field

2 photos

Watch and learn

2 videos

Burrowing Owl

Credit: Don DesJardin

Burrowing Owl

Credit: Dale J Martin

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 9 criteria confidence 4

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Desert, arid grassland, shrubs, cactus, mesquite
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:268-burrowing-owl:1:1 Source: 268 Burrowing Owl, row 1

Rule 2 9 criteria confidence 1

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Desert, arid grassland, shrubs, cactus, mesquite
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:268-burrowing-owl:2:1 Source: 268 Burrowing Owl, row 2