Listing Status
- Federal Status: Not Listed
- FL Status: State-designated Threatened
- FNAI Ranks: G4T3/S3 (Globally: Apparently Secure, Sub sp. Rare/ State: Rare)
- IUCN Status: LC (Least Concern)
Appearance:
The burrowing owl is one of the smallest owls in Florida. It can reach a length of nine inches (22.9 centimeters) with a wingspan of 21 inches (53.3 centimeters). Burrowing owls have brown dorsal (back) feathers with patches of white spots, and a white underside with brown bar-shaped spots. The body color pattern helps them blend in with the vegetation in their habitat and avoid predation (Millsap 1996). They also have large yellow eyes and a white chin.
The burrowing owl is a pint-sized bird that lives in open, treeless areas. The burrowing owl spends most of its time on the ground, where its sandy brown plumage provides camouflage from potential predators. One of Florida's smallest owls, it averages nine inches in height with a wingspan of 21 inches. The burrowing owl lacks the ear tufts of the more familiar woodland owls. Bright yellow eyes and a white chin accent the face. Unusually long legs provide additional height for a better view from its typical ground-level perch.
Behavior
The diet of the burrowing owl primarily consists of insects; however, they will also feed on snakes, frogs, small lizards, birds, and rodents. .
The typical breeding season for the Florida burrowing owl is February 15 to July 10, though owls can breed earlier or later. Nesting occurs in burrows in the ground that they dig. These burrows will be maintained and used again the following year (Haug et al. 1993). Females lay up to eight eggs within a one-week period, and they will incubate the eggs for up to 28 days. Once the white-feathered juveniles are born, it takes two weeks before they are ready and able to appear out of the burrow. Juveniles will begin learning how to fly at four weeks, but will not be able to fly well until they are six weeks old. Juveniles will stay with the parents until they are able to self-sustain at 12 weeks old.
Burrowing owls are different than other owls as they are active during the day time (diurnal) rather than at night (nocturnal) during breeding season. During the non-breeding season, they become more nocturnal.
Habitat
Burrowing owls inhabit open prairies in Florida that have very little understory (floor) vegetation. These areas include golf courses, airports, pastures, agriculture fields, and vacant lots. The drainage of wetlands, although detrimental to many organisms, increases the areas of habitat for the burrowing owl. The range of the burrowing owl is throughout the peninsular of Florida in patches and localized areas. Burrowing owls can also be found in the Bahamas (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001).
Threats
The burrowing owl faces many threats to its population. The main threat is the continued loss of habitat. Threats to habitat include construction activities development and harassment by humans and domesticated animals. Heavy floods can destroy burrows in the ground, which can cause the destruction of eggs and young. Other threats include increased predation by ground and aerial predators in the burrowing owl’s habitat, and vehicle strikes.
Conservation and Management
The Florida burrowing owl is classified as State Threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This means that taking, possessing, or selling burrowing owls, their nests (i.e., burrows), or eggs is prohibited without a permit (68A-27 F.A.C.). Burrowing owls, eggs, and young are also protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Biological Status Review (BSR)
Supplemental Information for the BSR
Species Action Plan for the Florida Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines
Learn more about how you can live with and conserve burrowing owls.