Common Name:
Burrowing Owl
Scientific Name:
Athene cunicularia
license, courtesy Flickr user Passerine
Unique Qualities:
Burrowing Owls are the only owls in Canada that build their nests underground! These little owls stand about 19 to 25 centimeters tall, a little bigger than a pop can, and live for 3 or 4 years. They have several distinct calls, including: a “chatter” which is used as a warning, a “coo-coo” which is used to define their territory, and a “hiss” which is used when they are threatened by a rattlesnake or another predator.
Can be Seen:
Burrowing Owls can be found in the southern part of Saskatchewan and Alberta. They used to live in Manitoba and British Columbia but are now considered extirpated in those provinces.
Likes to Hang Out:
During the summer, Burrowing Owls live on Canada’s prairies, then they migrate south to the United States and Mexico for the winter. Burrowing Owls actually don’t dig their own burrows, they use ones left behind by badgers, gophers, prairie dogs, foxes and coyotes.
Likes to Eat:
Burrowing Owls chase insects and grasshoppers and catch them with their feet! They also eat mice, squirrels, toads and other small mammals that they scout out from their perching places on top of posts.
Status:
The Burrowing Owl has been listed as endangered since 1995. There are less than 1000 pairs of Burrowing Owls left in Canada, and they have been declining by 20% every year. If this rate is not slowed, they will become extinct. Habitat destruction is the number one threat to these animals; very little of their native grassland habitat is left. Not only that, some owls are poisoned by eating insects and grasshoppers that were killed by pesticides used on farms.
Extra Info:
- Many farms in the prairies have agreed to keep some land available for Burrowing Owls rather than planting crops. Hopefully these efforts will increase the number of Burrowing Owls in the prairies.
- Courting happens when Burrowing Owls return to Canada for the summer.
- Once the pair have courted, they will choose a burrow. The male will then begin to fix it up by lining it with feathers, dried plants and even cow dung!
