Burrowing Owls

One of Florida's smallest owls, the burrowing owl lives in open, treeless areas. It spends most of its time on the ground where its sandy brown plumage provides camouflage from potential predators or in a burrow for both roosting and nesting.

Historically, the burrowing owl occupied the open native prairies of central Florida. Recently, these populations have decreased because of disappearing habitat. Burrowing owls inhabit cleared areas that offer short groundcover such as pastures, agricultural fields, golf courses, airports and vacant lots in residential areas.

To conserve the burrowing owl, we must be aware of the needs of the owls, and strive to do our best to protect their habitat, nest sites and populations for future generations to enjoy.