Photo: Dario Sanches from São Paulo, Brazil / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) — Owls of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 151 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Athene
- Species cunicularia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 151 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Burrowing Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Burrowing Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 151 g, with a wing length of about 18 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Burrowing Owl?
The Burrowing Owl is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 151 g.
Where does the Burrowing Owl live?
The Burrowing Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Burrowing Owl belong to?
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Burrowing Owl eat?
The Burrowing Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Burrowing Owl migrate?
The Burrowing Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Burrowing Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Burrowing Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Burrowing Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Burrowing Owl's range?
The Burrowing Owl has a mapped global range of about 14.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.