Athene cunicularia
Only where the Great Plains meet the mountains will you see these endangered, prairie-nesting ground owls in the Rockies. Burrowing Owls require open, treeless areas of short-grass prairie to live. The conversion of native grasslands to cropland has reduced the breeding range of these birds, and certain chemicals used in agriculture have been known to decrease breeding success. When they perch at the entrance of their burrows, these long-legged owls look very similar to ground squirrels or prairie dogs, with which this owl closely associates. |
I.D.: Sexes similar. Adult: long legs; rounded head; no ear tufts; yellow bill; short wings; white spotting on the breast; brown upperparts are flecked with white. Immature: buff-brown breast is unspotted. Size: L 8-9 in. (20-23 cm); W 20-24 in. (51-61 cm). Range: uncommon local breeder in appropriate habitat east of the Rockies in Montana; historical breeder in Yellowstone NP. Habitat: open grasslands and semi-desert shrublands in treeless country in the prairies and the foothills. Nesting: typically on the Great Plains; often colonial; in abandoned ground squirrel, badger, hare or prairie dog earth burrows; enlarges the burrow up to 7 ft. (2.1 m) deep with claws; might add grass, sticks or other debris, such as dried cow dung, to the nest site; female incubates 7-9 eggs for up to 30 days. Feeding: opportunistic; stalks prey or pounces from flight or from a mound or a fencepost perch; eats mostly ground insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles and crickets; also eats small rodents, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Voice: call is a harsh chuk; rasping, rattlesnake-like warning call when inside burrows. Male: mournful coo-coo-roo in courtship. Similar Species: Short-eared Owl: heavily streaked breast; short legs; long wings; doesn't nest in burrows. |
