Home/Species/ Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

(Molina, 1782)

Burrowing Owl

G4Apparently Secure Found in 32 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106553

Element CodeABNSB10010

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

CITESAppendix II

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassAves

OrderStrigiformes

FamilyStrigidae

GenusAthene

Synonyms

Speotyto cunicularia

Other Common Names

burrowing owl (EN) Chevêche des terriers (FR) Coruja-Buraqueira (PT) Tecolote Llanero, Lechucita de las Viscacheras (ES)

Concept Reference

American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.

Taxonomic Comments

Placed in genus Athene by AOU (1997). Karyotypic studies suggest separate generic status as Speotyto (AOU 1991). Sibley and Monroe (1990) cited DNA-DNA hybridization evidence in asserting that Speotyto cunicularia is not closely related to owls of the genus Athene.

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2024-04-12

Change Date1996-11-27

Edition Date2024-04-12

Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2024)

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences> 300

Rank Reasons

This species is widespread throughout the Western Hemisphere, although populations are localized. Populations in the United States and Canada have been in decline for decades. Threats include habitat loss due to development and agriculture, habitat becoming less suitable as burrow-digging mammals are lost and as disturbance by humans and domestic animals increases, pesticide exposure, invasive predators, and collisions with man-made objects.

Range Extent Comments

The range includes much of the Western Hemisphere. The range extends from southwestern Canada southward through North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Santa Cruz Province, Argentina and includes parts of the Caribbean (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020, Saggese and Montero 2021, Fink et al. 2023). A migratory population occupies the portion of the range from southwestern Canada to the southwestern United States from April to September, and that population occupies the portion of the range from central México to El Salvador from September through March (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020, Fink et al. 2023). Other populations are year-round residents. Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF 2024) records since 2004 (i.e., the past 20 years), range extent was calculated to be approximately 40 million km² (GeoCat 2024).

Throughout the range, occurrences are very localized and unevenly distributed with large portions of the range unoccupied (Tipton et al. 2009, Wilkerson and Siegel 2011, Ruiz Ayma et al. 2016, COSEWIC 2017, Fink et al. 2023). In the Caribbean, it is found in The Bahamas, Cuba, and on the island of Hispaniola in the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic (Thorstrom and Gallardo 2017, Gallardo and Thorstrom 2019). It is absent east of the Mississippi River in the United States except for parts of Florida (Bowen 2001). It is generally absent in much of Central America, the northern Andes, and the Amazon Basin (Poulin et al. 2020).

Occurrences Comments

The number of distinct breeding occurrences has not been determined using standardized criteria. There are likely many hundreds to a few thousand occurrences throughout the range, but more information is needed in Central America and South America to accurately assess the number of occurrences.

Threat Impact Comments

Habitat loss due to conversion to agriculture and urban development continues to occur throughout the range (Villarreal et al. 2005, Panella 2013, Baladrón et al. 2016, Valencia-Maldonado et al. 2016, COSEWIC 2017). The hunting and persecution of fossorial mammals that initially dig burrows used by burrowing owls causes a reduction in habitat quality and suitability over time (Evans 1982, Conway and Pardieck 2006, Panella 2013, COSEWIC 2017, Conway et al. 2018, Sheffield 2021). Disturbance by humans and unleashed dogs causes the abandonment of otherwise suitable sites (Panella 2013, COSEWIC 2017). Industry, utility, and wind energy developments in North America cause fatal collisions as well as habitat fragmentation (Panella 2013, COSEWIC 2017, Linger et al. 2018). Exposure to insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, and other contaminants can have negative impacts that are direct (e.g. illness, mortality) and indirect (e.g. prey species reduction) (Engelman et al. 2012, Panella 2013, COSEWIC 2017, Justice-Allen and Loyd 2017). See COSEWIC (2017) for a summary of pesticide usage in the breeding range. In the Caribbean, mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), black rat (Rattus rattus), and brown rat (R. norvegicus) are suspected of extirpating several island populations (Gallardo and Thorstrom 2019). Storms during the migration and the non-breeding season are thought to have negative impacts on adult survival in the migratory population (Wellicome et al. 2014).

Partners in Flight considered threats to be high in the breeding range and moderate in the non-breeding range, although exact threats were not detailed (Rosenberg et al. 2016).

Ecology & Habitat

Description

This is a small, ground-dwelling owl with long legs, white chin stripe, round head, and stubby tail; adults are boldly spotted and barred with brown and white; juveniles are buffy below; average length 24 cm (NGS 1983, Peterson 1990).

Diagnostic Characteristics

No other small owl has such long legs or perches habitually on the ground in open situations. Much smaller than the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), length 24 cm vs. 38 cm, which also has relatively shorter legs.

Habitat

The habitat includes a wide variety of grassland ecotypes as well as vegetated and non-vegetated sand dunes, (Panella 2013, Baladrón et al. 2016, Cadena-Ortíz et al. 2016, COSEWIC 2017, Saggese and Montero 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). Shrub and tree cover is typically avoided in breeding habitat (Villarreal et al. 2005, Thiele et al. 2019). On non-breeding grounds in Texas and México, individuals tended to pick daytime roost locations in shrubby areas with nearby low grassland (Holroyd et al. 2010). Found at elevations over 2,400 m in the Andes (Cadena-Ortíz et al. 2016) and over 2,200 m on Hispaniola (Gallardo and Thorstrom 2019).

Burrows used as nesting sites are initially dug by other species including prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), canines (family Canidae), rodents (order Rodentia), skunks (family Mephitidae), American badger (Taxidea taxus), nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), plains vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus), and tortoises (Gopherus spp.) (Smith and Lomolino 2004, Villarreal et al. 2005, Tipton et al. 2009, Ruiz Ayma et al. 2016, COSEWIC 2017, Conway 2018, Poulin et al. 2020). In Florida, U.S. and Argentina, this species digs its own burrows (Segasse and Montero 2021).

This species has adapted to man-modified habitats with low groundcover such as agricultural fields, grazed cattle pastures, golf courses, powerline corridors, airports, vacant lots, fairgrounds, etc. (Bowen 2001, COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). All known occurrences in Florida are in man-modified habitats, although it historically used fire-maintained prairie systems there (Bowen 2001).

Ecology

Reported densities: 3.5-6 ha/pair in North Dakota, 3.04 individuals/km² in black-tailed prairie dog colonies vs. 0.044 individuals/km² in short-grass prairie in eastern Colorado (Tipton et al. 2009), 8 pairs/km² in California, 8.8-10.8 individuals/km² in Mexican prairie dog colonies (Ruiz Ayma et al. 2016), and 13-16 ha/pair in Saskatchewan.

Territory defense mainly limited to immediate vicinity of nest burrow; individuals may share a common foraging area.

Reproduction

Clutch size averages 6-7 eggs (COSEWIC 2017). Incubation, by female, lasts 27-30 days (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). Male provides food during incubation and early nestling stages (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). Young run and forage at 4 weeks, and attain sustained flight at 6 weeks (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). Nesting efforts average 3-5 fledglings per brood (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020). Individuals first breed at 1 year (some may not) and generally produce 1 brood/year (double brooding documented in Florida) (COSEWIC 2017, Poulin et al. 2020).

Terrestrial Habitats

SavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesert

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN4B,N4N

Province	Rank	Native
Kansas	S3B	Yes
Navajo Nation	S3B	Yes
New Mexico	S4B,S4N	Yes
Idaho	S2B	Yes
Arkansas	S2N	Yes
Oregon	S3B	Yes
Mississippi	SNA	Yes
Nevada	S3B	Yes
South Dakota	S3B	Yes
California	S2	Yes
Nebraska	S2	Yes
Arizona	S3	Yes
Texas	S3B	Yes
Oklahoma	S2	Yes
Washington	S2B	Yes
Wyoming	S3B	Yes
Colorado	S4B	Yes
Montana	S3B	Yes
Missouri	SX	Yes
Minnesota	S1B,SNRM	Yes
North Dakota	SU	Yes
Florida	S3	Yes
Utah	S2	Yes
Alabama	S2N	Yes

CanadaN2B

Province	Rank	Native
Manitoba	S1B	Yes
Saskatchewan	S2B	Yes
Alberta	S2B	Yes
British Columbia	S1B	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
1 - Residential & commercial development	Restricted (11-30%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas	Restricted - small	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas	Restricted - small	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture	Large - restricted	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching	Restricted (11-30%)	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
3 - Energy production & mining	Restricted (11-30%)	Slight or 1-10% pop. decline	High (continuing)
3.3 - Renewable energy	Restricted (11-30%)	Slight or 1-10% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use	Pervasive - large	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Pervasive - large	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5.1.2 - Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Pervasive - large	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
9 - Pollution	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticides	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)

Roadless Areas (32)

Arizona (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Fritsche	Prescott National Forest	14,190

California (15)

Area	Forest	Acres
Antimony	Los Padres National Forest	40,911
Barker Valley	Cleveland National Forest	11,940
Channell	Sequoia National Forest	45,429
Cucamonga B	San Bernardino National Forest	11,933
Cucamonga C	San Bernardino National Forest	4,106
Domeland Add.	Sequoia National Forest	3,046
Dry Lakes	Los Padres National Forest	17,043
Fox Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	52,072
Hall Natural Area	Inyo National Forest	5,236
Horton	Inyo National Forest	5,717
Ishi	Lassen National Forest	21,805
Matilija	Los Padres National Forest	5,218
San Sevaine	San Bernardino National Forest	6,866
White Ledge	Los Padres National Forest	18,632
Woolstaff	Sequoia National Forest	41,445

Idaho (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Italian Peak	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	141,158

Montana (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Freezeout Mountain	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	97,305
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)	Bitterroot National Forest	114,953

Nevada (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Mtn.	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	41,598
Jarbidge - Cottonwood	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	3,610
Santa Rosa	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	54,555
South Schell	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	125,614
Toquima Cave	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	43,147

New Mexico (4)

Area	Forest	Acres
Chama WS River	Santa Fe National Forest	4,168
El Invierno	Santa Fe National Forest	29,927
Lemitas	Santa Fe National Forest	8,129
West Face Sacramento Mountains	Lincoln National Forest	41,176

Oregon (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Tenmile	Siuslaw National Forest	10,818

South Dakota (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
First Black Canyon	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	4,965
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	24,666
Jim Wilson Canyon	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	6,024

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