Life List 087
Visually documented
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
- First photographed
- June 27, 2026
- First location
- Utah, United States
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
An evolving study
Burrowing Owl portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Athene cunicularia
Overview
The Burrowing Owl is a small, long-legged owl of open country that nests and shelters underground. In North America it commonly depends on burrows excavated by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, tortoises, and other animals.
Identification
Small and upright with long bare-looking legs, yellow eyes, white eyebrows and throat, and brown plumage spotted and barred with white. It often bobs when alarmed and may stand at a burrow entrance in daylight.
Range
Occurs locally across western North America, Florida, parts of the Caribbean, and much of Central and South America. Northern Great Plains populations migrate.
Habitat
Short grassland, prairie-dog colonies, desert scrub, pasture, agricultural edges, airports, and other open areas with burrows and low vegetation.
Diet
Large insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, taken both by day and at night.
Photography by Brittany Templin
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