Burrowing owls are small, long-legged owls that live in open, treeless areas. They get their name because they nest and roost in burrows in the ground. Burrowing owls are found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts and urban landscapes throughout western North America.
Where do burrowing owls live?
Burrowing owls live in open habitats with short vegetation and little tree cover. Some of the areas they inhabit include:
- Prairies
- Grasslands
- Rangelands
- Agricultural fields
- Deserts
- Airports
- Golf courses
- University campuses
- Parks
- Disturbed sites
Burrowing owls are found throughout much of western North America. They range from Canada to Mexico and can be found in many western and plains states including:
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Idaho
- Nevada
- Utah
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Texas
Within their range, burrowing owls are often locally distributed based on the availability of suitable habitat. They can occur singly or in loose colonies.
What kind of habitat do burrowing owls prefer?
Burrowing owls need open habitats with short, sparse vegetation and plenty of bare ground. This allows them to spot predators, prey and mates more easily. Some key habitat features they look for include:
- Short grass, less than 30 cm (1 ft) tall
- Open areas with little shrub or tree cover
- Bare or disturbed ground with very little plant litter
- Gently sloping hills or mounds for perching
- Underground rodent burrows or cavities for nesting/roosting
Good burrowing owl habitat often includes areas like overgrazed pastures, golf courses, airports, road allowances, campuses and parks. They also use agricultural lands, especially in years when vegetation is sparse due to drought or overgrazing.
What do they use the burrows for?
Burrowing owls use burrows excavated by other animals for:
- Nesting – Female owls lay eggs and raise young in burrows
- Roosting – Owls spend nights and rest in burrows
- Shelter – Burrows protect owls from predators and weather
- Food caching – Owls often store prey in burrows
The most common sources of burrows used by owls include:
- Prairie dog towns
- Ground squirrel colonies
- Badger dens
- Fox dens
- Coyote dens
- Man-made features like pipes, culverts or artificial burrows
Owls prefer burrows at least 90 cm (3 ft) deep, with tunnels 10-30 cm (4-12 in) in diameter. They will often maintain and defend a burrow site for years.
What time of year can you find burrowing owls?
Burrowing owls can be found on breeding grounds starting in late March or April. The breeding season runs through May and June. Some key periods include:
- Late March – early April – Owls arrive at breeding areas
- April – females lay eggs in burrows
- May – June – eggs hatch, adults feed young in nest
- June – July – young fledge burrow and become independent
- Late July – August – adults and young disperse from breeding sites
Some owls overwinter in breeding areas, but most migrate south in September – November. Breeding areas are mostly abandoned in winter.
What times of day are owls active?
Burrowing owls are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Some activity patterns include:
- Early morning (1 hr before sunrise) – peak hunting
- Morning – social interactions, preening, sunning at burrow
- Mid-day (11 am – 3 pm) – resting in burrow to avoid heat
- Late afternoon – emerge from burrow
- Evening/twilight – increased activity, socializing, feeding
- Night – owls roost in burrow; may hunt on moonlit nights
This means the best times to look for owls are early morning and evening. Midday heat sends them underground.
How can you locate burrowing owls?
Here are some tips for locating burrowing owls:
- Search appropriate habitat – Focus on open areas with short vegetation
- Scan for perched owls – Check dirt mounds, fence posts, Sprinkler heads
- Look for signs – Look for whitewash, pellets, feathers at burrow openings
- Watch sky – Flying owls are more noticeable in morning/evening
- Listen for calls – “Hoohoohoo” call often given at burrow sites
- Use binoculars – Scan burrow openings; owls may be hidden inside
- Try owl prowl events – Many parks/refuges offer summer owl prowls
It takes patience and practice, but looking in the right habitats at the right times of day improves your chances of finding these charismatic owls.
How can you get close views?
Burrowing owls can be tolerant of humans if you follow proper viewing guidelines:
- Approach slowly and indirectly – Walk tangent to burrow at wide arc
- Watch owl behavior – Stop if signs of agitation (alert stance, staring)
- Squat or sit – Reduce your height to appear less threatening
- Limit group size – No more than 3-4 people per viewing
- Use scope/binoculars – Avoid stressing owl with close approach
- Limit time – 15-20 minutes max per viewing
- Avoid nest sites – Don’t disturb female/young in burrow
- Maintain quiet – Keep noise and activity low
With care and respect, amazing views can be had without disturbing these small owls and their breeding behaviors.
Can you attract burrowing owls to your property?
You may be able to encourage burrowing owl use of your property by providing suitable habitat features and nesting opportunities:
- Keep grass mowed – Maintain areas of short, sparse grass
- Remove shrubs/trees – Open sight lines for owl foraging
- Allow ground disturbance – Bare dirt creates owl burrow opportunities
- Leave dead vegetation – Provides loose material for owls to line burrows
- Install owl boxes – Unused rodent burrows can be replaced with artificial burrows
- Reduce pesticide use – Provides healthy prey base of insects and rodents
- Set up perches – Fence posts or platforms give owls vantage points
With some planning, you may be able to entice burrowing owls to nest and feed on suitable portions of your land.
Can you provide food/water for burrowing owls?
Supplemental feeding and watering is not recommended for burrowing owls for several reasons:
- Owls prey on live insects, rodents – Not interested in dead food
- Feeding can disrupt natural behaviors and increase dependence
- Congregating owls at feeders can increase disease transmission
- Available food sources are much more attractive than artificial feeders
- Water needs are met through prey items
The best support is providing appropriate nesting and habitat without supplemental feeding/watering.
What legal protections apply to burrowing owls?
Legal status and protections for burrowing owls include:
- Federal – Migratory Bird Treaty Act – Prohibits killing/harassing
- State laws – Vary by state – Often protect individuals and habitat
- May be state endangered in some areas – MN, IA, NY
- International – Listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List
Be sure to check state and local laws before interacting with owls or their burrows. Landowner permission may be required before entering private property.
Can you have burrowing owls removed or excluded from your property?
In most cases, removing or excluding burrowing owls is not allowed under permits from state and federal wildlife agencies. Guidelines often include:
- Avoid disturbing nesting burrows during breeding (Mar – Aug)
- Establish buffer zones around nests – often 50-75 m radius
- Delay activities until young have fledged and moved off-site
- Provide alternate artificial burrows nearby if eviction is unavoidable
- Develop mitigation plan with wildlife agencies before exclusion
Lethal control of owls is prohibited. Check regulations before attempting removal – monitoring or on-site mitigation may be required.
What threats do burrowing owls face today?
Major threats to burrowing owl populations include:
- Habitat loss – Agriculture, urbanization destroys grasslands and burrows
- Prey decline – Reduced rodents/insects from pesticides
- Control as pests – Historically poisoned and gassed in dens
- Vehicle collisions – Owls struck while perching on roads
- Human disturbance – ATVs, landscaping near nests
- Climate change – Impacts through drought, increased fires
Many populations are declining. Long-term conservation requires protecting nesting habitat and working lands while maintaining healthy prey populations.
How can you support burrowing owl conservation?
Some ways you can help support burrowing owl conservation include:
- Report owl sightings – To agencies monitoring populations
- Volunteer – For habitat restoration work days
- Educate others – On how to view owls responsibly
- Conserve land – Support acquisition/protection of owl habitats
- Reduce rodent control – Limit poisoning around owl nesting areas
- Manage grazing sustainably – Maintain short vegetation for foraging
- Provide nest boxes – Where burrows are lacking
- Support research – Help fund tracking and population studies
With small actions by many people, we can make sure these charismatic owls continue thriving on the landscape.
Conclusion
Burrowing owls are delightful denizens of open habitats across western and central North America. Finding them requires searching during dawn and dusk in grasslands and disturbed sites with plentiful bare ground. Observing them ethically means watching quietly from a distance. While they face substantial threats from development and pest control, thoughtful management of grazing lands and rodent populations can create habitat where both ranchers and owls can thrive. With care and persistence, a peek into the lives of these tiny owls on the prairies is a reward well worth the effort.
