Burrowing Owls

In today’s NatureSmart column, Stan Tekiela shares with us why the Burrowing Owl is different from all other owls.

I love the rule breakers in nature. People tend to pigeonhole (sorry for the pun) birds and animals into categories not based on facts but on how we perceive them to be. We think that if they are one kind of critter, then they will act a specific way. Owls are a good example of this stereotypical thinking.

I have written many times in the past about the Red-headed Woodpecker, which is a species of woodpecker that doesn’t really act like other woodpeckers. This is a good example of a rule breaker. The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is another great example of a species of owl that doesn’t behave like other owls.

First of all, Burrowing Owls are tiny birds—not the large hulking predators that we often think of when imagining owls. In fact, they are so small (less than 10 inches tall), that they hunt mostly insects like grasshoppers and katydids. So they are not very fierce predators, unless you are a bug.

Half of the mystery of owls is their nocturnal behavior. Being active at night means it’s often difficult to see owls. This is not true of Burrowing Owls. They are active during the daytime and at night, making them very easy to see and, more importantly, observe their natural behaviors. Many of the larger insects, such as grasshoppers, are most active during the day, so the Burrowing Owl takes advantage of this and hunts during the day. They will also catch small lizards and snakes, which are also active during the day. It seems this owl is perfectly adapted for the food it hunts.

There are a number of owl species, such as the Barred Owl, that nest inside tree cavities. However, the Burrowing Owl is the only one that nests in underground burrows, hence their common name. Sometimes the Burrowing Owl will take over an old prairie dog or ground squirrel burrow and widen or lengthen the burrow. Other times the Burrowing Owl will simply dig out its own nesting burrow.

Using their tiny feet, they kick loose dirt backwards to excavate their burrows. It can take a fairly long time to dig out their burrows, up to 2 weeks, but they use the burrows for many years in a row, making all the effort worth it. Many burrows are upwards of 6 feet long with a small chamber at the end. They will have extra chambers where they store food.

At nesting time, the adults bring in chunks of animal dung (usually cow manure) to decorate the entrance to the burrow. Presumably this will attract beetles and other ground-dwelling insects that the owls then catch and eat. But the birds also collect other objects (like bottle caps) to place at the burrow entrance.

Interestingly, Burrowing Owls take well to man-made nesting burrows constructed of PVC pipe or sections of 4-inch drain tile with a small wooden box at the end. This type of apparatus is meant to be buried about 2- to 3-feet deep. The owls seem to like these dwellings and use them often.

Burrowing owls also have very long naked legs—much longer than most other owls. They also lack the feathers found on the legs and feet of other owls. This is because they live in warm climates where having feathers on your legs for warmth is not necessary.

All of these things make the Burrowing Owl different from  other owls—and make this bird a classic rule breaker. In nature, there are never any absolutes, and there is always an exception to every rule. I love the rule breakers. Until next time…

If you enjoyed Stan’s post, you may consider one of his amazing nature books: Majestic Eagles; The Lives of Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes; or Backyard Birds: Welcomed Guests at our Gardens and Feeders. Young readers will delight in his award-winning children’s books, such as Whose Butt?, Critter Litter, and his latest,  Jump, Little Wood Ducks.

You can follow Stan on Facebook and Twitter, or contact him via his web page. Stan’s nationally syndicated NatureSmart Column appears in more than 25 cities spanning 5 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania) and is circulated to more than 750,000 readers. Stan’s author page on Amazon features some amazing videos! Check them out, and follow him for updates.

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More posts from Stan:
Indigo Bunting—A Familiar Summer Visitor
The Nesting Behaviors of Sandhill Cranes
Big Birds, Baby Birds, Birds Everywhere
Stan Tekiela observes Marsh Wrens 
The Magical, Mystical World of Sandhill Cranes