Burrowing Owl

Overview
Burrowing Owl: Small ground-dwelling owl, mostly brown with numerous white spots and no ear tufts. Eyes are yellow. White chin and throat. Tail is short, and legs are long. Bouyant, erratic flight with slow, silent wingbeats. May hover briefly above prey. The scientific name means "little digger."

Range and Habitat
Burrowing Owl: Occurs in southwestern Canada, the western U.S., Florida, and northern Alaska. Preferred habitats include open, dry grasslands and deserts.

The Burrowing Owl is native to numerous countries throughout North America and Central America. It has also been seen in the Pacific and the Caribbean. It is believed to be possibly extinct in Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis. The range of this bird is around 14 million square kilometers. The global population of the Burrowing Owl is thought to be about 3 million individual birds. Currently, the Burrowing Owl is rated as Least Concern due to its impressive range and fairly large population.

INTERESTING FACTS
Burrowing Owls are diurnal (active during the day) while most other species of owls are nocturnal (active at night). Like other owls they prey on small mammals but, unlike other owls, they will also eat fruits and seeds, especially the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. Unusual among all species of birds, the females are actually smaller than the males. A group of owls has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "glaring", "parliament", "stooping", and "wisdom" of owls.