A long-legged owl of open country, often active by day, the Burrowing Owl is popular with humans wherever it occurs, but it has become rare in many areas owing to loss of habitat. Burrowing owls don’t dig their own burrows, so they have to rely on other animals to do … Winter populations are found in Central America and Mexico. In some parts of the American West, the long-legged Burrowing Owl is known as the “howdy owl.” These endearing raptors allow people to closely approach and will even nod an apparent greeting to human visitors. Owls are unmistakable birds, and that goes double for a long-legged owl that hunts on the ground during the day. ABOUT BURROWING OWLS Appearance: The burrowing owl is a pint-sized bird that lives in open, treeless areas. Try to think of another owl that lives underground. Some Burrowing Owls use their feet and bills to dig burrows themselves. Burrowing owls are so named because they live underground in burrows that have been dug out by small mammals like ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Where do Burrowing Owls live? Burrowing Owls live up to their name by nesting in underground tunnels that were dug by ground squirrels, prairie dogs, badgers, or other burrowing animals. Support groups and individuals who are working to save the Burrowing Owl. Learn more about the Burrowing Owl and its habitat and share this information with your family, friends, and community. Barn Owls typically nest in the rafters of barns, in empty buildings or silos, or in cavities along cliffs. Snowy owls are mostly white with narrow, sparse brown bars and spots. Burrowing Owls live in open, treeless areas with low, sparse vegetation, usually on gently sloping terrain. Burrowing Owl At 100 square miles, Cape Coral, Florida is the second largest city, land wise, in the State of Florida with Jacksonville the only city that is larger. Through an extensive breed and release program, Burrowing Owls have been reintroduced into the interior of British Columbia thanks to the hard work and dedication of Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC. Encourage farmers and other landowners not to disturb areas in which Burrowing Owls live. They live underground in burrows they’ve dug themselves or taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. Burrowing owls live in burrows dug by other animals in open, treeless spaces. They are native to the deserts, plains and fields of western North America, and the drier regions of Central and South America. Burrowing owls are long legged and live in open landscapes of North and South America. True to their name, Burrowing Owls live underground, usually in a burrow taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. Interesting Facts About the Burrowing Owl. What You Can Do. Burrowing owls can be seen year-round in Florida, Mexico, and parts of South America, excluding the Amazon rain forest. Biological Status Review (BSR) Supplemental Information for the BSR Species Action Plan for the Florida Burrowing Owl. Colorful fiction once held that owls, prairie-dogs, and rattlesnakes would all live in the same burrow at once. The burrowing owl spends most of its time on the ground, where its sandy brown plumage provides camouflage from potential predators. In the U.S. they are most abundant in the burrows of various prairie dog species. One of Florida's smallest owls, it averages nine inches in height with a wingspan of 21 inches. Burrowing owls, eggs, and young are also protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Burrowing owls live under ground unlike other owls. They are uniquely adapted for life on the ground, and their behavior and habits vary from other species as a result. Burrowing Owl can be found in grasslands, deserts, agricultural areas and on western plains/prairies. The owls can be found in grasslands, deserts, and steppe environments; on golf courses, pastures, agricultural fields, airport medians, and road embankments; in cemeteries and urban vacant lots. Burrowing Owl Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines Learn more about how you can live with and conserve burrowing owls. Unlike most owls, they are very active during the day and nest in underground burrows. This owl's characteristics include long legs, a brown body with speckles of white, and the absence of ear tufts. They are one of the smallest owls in North America and threatened by habitat destruction and land use change. Cape Coral also has the distinction of having the largest population of the Florida species of the Burrowing Owl … Daylight – Few owl species are active during daylight hours. Burrowing owls are one of the smallest owl species. These charismatic little creatures live an odd life for an owl! Burrowing Owls are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes.