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Habitat of a Burrowing Owl
Breeding Range
Suitable burrowing owl habitat varies slightly between breeding and wintering ranges. Breeding range habitat generally includes open, flat areas with sparse vegetation, short grass, and bare soil. Burrowing owls prefer prairies, grasslands, deserts, and sagebrush habitats.
Sagebrush Habitat
In the western United States, burrowing owls favor areas of flat, open ground with very short grass or bare soil. Prairie-dog towns once furnished much ideal habitat in the west, but these have become less common.
Nesting Sites
Burrowing owls live underground in burrows they've dug themselves or taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. These burrows provide shelter from predators and protection from the elements.
Physical Characteristics
Burrowing owls are small sandy-colored owls with bright-yellow eyes. They have long legs and short tails. They are well-adapted to their open habitat, with excellent eyesight and hearing that help them to spot prey and avoid predators.
Distribution
Burrowing owls are found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. They are most common in the western United States, but can also be found in the Great Plains, the Midwest, and Mexico.
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