Burrowing Owl Facts

This small, long-legged “earless” owl hunts mainly invertebrates and small mammals. It normally uses the empty burrows of mammals such as prairie dogs and viscacha but has also been known to take over the homes of gophers, armadillos, and skunks.

In common with all owls, and most birds, the Burrowing Owl has no sense of smell!

They will occasionally excavate their own burrow and will frequently place animal dung around the entrance of the burrow to hide their scent from mammalian predators, making it one of only two owls in the world who bring material to the nest.

Largely hunting by day this is a mainly terrestrial owl often seen hunting by walking or hopping on the ground. Can be seen perched on a rock, a mound of earth, or fence post waiting for prey and bobbing up and down when excited.

They frequently roost on one leg. Keep watching… they do have two really!