The Burrowing Owl

The burrowing owl is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. They live in Grasslands, agricultural areas, deserts or any other open dry area with low vegetation.

They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active during the day, but they tend to avoid the midday heat. Like many other kinds of owls, they hunt from dusk until dawn, when they can use their vision and hearing to their advantage.

Burrowing owls have bright eyes; their beaks can be dark yellow or gray. They lack ear tufts and have a flattened facial disc. The owls have prominent white eyebrows. Adults have brown heads and wings with white spotting. Their chests are white with brown spotting.

Males and females are similar in size. They are 7.5 to 11 in (19 to 28 cm) long and their wingspan is 20 to 24 in (50.8 to 61 cm) across. They weigh between 4.9 and 8.5 oz (140 - 240 g).

They eat small mammals such as moles and mice during late spring and early summer. Later they switch to insects, grasshoppers and beetles. They also eat birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The burrowing owls are capable of producing a variety of warbling, rasping, screaming and rattling sounds.

The female lays six to eight eggs over a one-week period. She will incubate the eggs for 21 to 28 days. The young ones are covered with white downy feathers when they hatch. Most of the eggs hatch, only 4-5 juvenile chicks survive before they are ready to fly.

By early autumn, the spring hatchlings will get their adult plumage and will soon be ready to leave the nest for good.

The life cycle begins when a male and a female become a couple. They stay together unless something happens to one or the other. Once she lays her eggs, the female is busy incubating. The male hunts for food and brings his mate's meals for her. Once the babies hatch, mom stays with them while dad hunts for the family. The little ones will come out of the burrow two weeks after hatching, but they will stay close to the burrow, because both parents will hunt at that point.