Burrowing Owl
Learn to identify the Burrowing Owl by ear. Master the "soft 'coo-coooo" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Burrowing Owl sounds like
The Burrowing Owl is a small, ground-dwelling owl with long legs, a short tail, and a rounded head without ear tufts. It has sandy-brown plumage with white spotting on the back and barring on the chest and belly. Its bright yellow eyes and white eyebrows give it a stern, attentive expression. Unlike most owls, it is often active during daylight hours.
“soft 'coo-coooo”
How to tell it apart
Where you'll hear it
Inhabits open landscapes with sparse vegetation including grasslands, deserts, agricultural areas, and urban vacant lots. Requires burrows for nesting and roosting, often using abandoned prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise burrows. May dig their own burrows in softer soils, particularly in Florida.
Unlike most owls, often active during daylight, especially at dawn and dusk. Breeding season in North America runs from March through April.
Similar species
Short-eared Owl
Larger with longer wings and different flight pattern.
Little Owl (in Europe)
Similar in size and appearance but not found naturally in North America.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Much smaller with a proportionally shorter tail.