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Burrowing owl

Athene cunicularia

Description:

The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the mid-day heat. But like many other kinds of owls, they do most of their hunting from dusk until dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage.

Habitat:

Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other dry, open area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs.

Notes:

In the Florida keys, Burrowing owls often nest in drains & other man-made holes!

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2 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Added to NWF mission because of its innovative defenses - The owlets are able to scare away predators by hiding in the burrow and mimicking the sounds of a rattlesnake.

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Nice picture, good information. Thanks

KarenL
Spotted by
KarenL

Marathon, Florida, USA

Spotted on May 5, 2009
Submitted on Aug 20, 2011

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