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Athene cunicularia
Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are so named because they live underground in burrows that have been dug out by small mammals like ground squirrels and prairie dogs. They are covered in brown spotted feathers and have long legs. They also sport distinctive white “eyebrows” above bright yellow eyes. They are one of the smallest owls in North America.
Burrowing owls often nest in loose colonies about 100 yards apart. During the nesting season, burrowing owls will collect a wide variety of materials to line their nest, some of which are left around the entrance to the burrow. The most common material is mammal dung, usually from cattle. At one time it was incorrectly thought that the dung helped to mask the scent of the juvenile owls, but researchers now believe the dung helps to control the microclimate inside the burrow and to attract insects, which the owls may eat
Spotted on May 25, 2011
Submitted on Dec 25, 2011
1 Comment
These are such cute little guys! We saw them on Marathon key where there have started building their nests in the drains - obviously much less work than burrowing!