Home › Aves › Strigidae › Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
SPECIES PROFILE
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Athene
IUCN STATUS
Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta; wintering grounds in Mexico; globally widespread at lower latitudes
DIET
Carnivore
HABITAT
Short-grass and mixed-grass prairie; agricultural fields; nests in burrows excavated by badgers and prairie dogs
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Strigiformes
FAMILY
Strigidae
GENUS
Athene
📋 Description
SIZE
19–25 cm; 150–185 g
COLORATION
Sandy brown spotted with white above; pale barred breast; long legs; bright yellow eyes; flat-headed appearance
ADAPTATIONS
Uses abandoned prairie dog and badger burrows; long legs adapted for running; active during the day
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Short-grass and mixed-grass prairie; agricultural fields; nests in burrows excavated by badgers and prairie dogs
DIET
Carnivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta; wintering grounds in Mexico; globally widespread at lower latitudes
REPRODUCTION
Nests in a burrow lined with animal dung which attracts dung beetles as a food source; 4–12 eggs; male guards while female incubates
DIET DETAILS
Insects including beetles and grasshoppers, small mammals, lizards, and small birds
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss from cultivation; loss of prairie dogs and badgers that create burrows; pesticide reduction of insect prey
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are active during the day and readily seen perching near their burrow entrances, making them one of the prairie's most charming resident birds.
2
The species lines its nest burrow with animal dung, which is thought to attract dung beetles as a food supplement — an unusual example of tool-like behaviour in birds.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Moose Jaw, SK, and surrounding mixed-grass prairie support one of the largest Burrowing Owl breeding populations in Canada
Swift Current, SK, has Burrowing Owls in agricultural fields and native grassland on the outskirts of town
Foremost, AB, and the surrounding short-grass prairie are a stronghold for Burrowing Owls in Alberta
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
May to August in daylight hours; active during the day unlike most owls; look for sentinel-style perching on mounds beside burrow entrances.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Summer. Scan open prairie near Moose Jaw and Swift Current for males perching on fence posts near burrow entrances from May to August.
