Scientific Name: Athene cunicularia (sometimes considered its own genus with the scientific name of Speotyto cunicularia)
Residency: Year-round in southern Arizona. In the summer, they reside throughout the state. The Burrowing Owl is a complete migrator to southern Arizona and Mexico.
Diet: Insects, scorpions, small mammals, amphibians, lizards and birds. The Burrowing Owl places horse and cow dung around the burrow to attract dung beetles.
Predators: Mammals, particularly badgers, are major predators. Domestic cats make up a smaller portion of the predators. Avian predators of both adult and young Burrowing Owls include: Swainson?s Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Merlins, Prairie Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, Great Horned Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper?s Hawks, and American Crows have all been seen or suspected as predators of adult and young Burrowing Owls. Opossums, weasels, skunks and dogs feed on eggs and young.
Nesting: Nests in cavities or burrows in the ground; may use former den of a mammal, or man-made boxes. Lays one brood per year; the number of white eggs ranges from 2 to 12 per clutch.
Nesting Records: Scottsdale Community College.
Notes: When faced with a mammalian predator during the nesting season, the Burrowing Owl attacks aerially. When faced with an avian predator, they usually escape into burrows. It is interesting to note that Burrowing Owls catch food with their feet. This species is diurnal, hunting both at night and during the day (catches more insects during daytime, and more mammals during night-time). The Burrowing Owl may dig its own burrow, or take over one previously made by prairie dogs, skunks, armadillos, or tortoises (the latter is considered a desert keystone species, since its burrows provide homes to several other desert species). This owl may be found in almost any open environment, including pastures, golf courses, backyards, airports, open lots, cemeteries, and university campuses. A major cause of death is collision with cars. This owl is considered an endangered or threatened species in some states.
Photo: Taken at Scottsdale Community College on February 9, 2007. For more photos, click on camera icon.
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