Where Do Burrowing Owls Live? (Habitat + Distribution)

The Burrowing Owl is one of the smallest owl species and, as its name suggests, one of the few owls that spends most of their time on the ground. These unique birds live in caves in the plains and deserts of North and South America.

Burrowing owls require open grassland, grassland, or desert habitats. Occasionally they also settle in farmland. These birds rarely burrow. Instead, they often nest in the same area as burrowing mammals such as groundhogs.

In this article, we will discuss the distribution and habitat of burrowing owls in more detail. Read on to discover more about these fascinating birds!

Burrowing owls typically live in desert, grassland, or grassland habitats

What is the range of the burrowing owl?

Burrowing owls are widely distributed throughout North and South America. These birds are found throughout the grasslands, deserts, and plains of the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Burrowing owls also live in Central and South America where suitable habitat is available.

Burrowing owl in flight

What is the habitat of a burrowing owl?

Suitable burrowing owl habitat varies slightly between breeding and wintering grounds. Breeding range Habitats typically include open, sparsely vegetated areas within desert, grassland, or grassland ecosystems. The owls also occasionally inhabit “human-impacted” environments, including farmlands, cemeteries, clearings, golf courses and playgrounds.

Because these owls use existing burrows for their nests, they are often found in areas where other burrowing mammals live. Prairie dog towns within burrowing owl habitats are one of the places where they are most common.

Often, existing burrows are critical for owls to determine nesting sites. However, a subspecies of burrowing owl in Florida digs its own underground nest.

Burrowing owls pay less attention to winter habitats. Overall, their habitat needs remained largely the same, open and sparsely vegetated.

However, burrowing owls are less likely to stick to one habitat and may opt for more artificial “burrows” such as construction pipes, culverts or garbage dumps.

Burrowing owl outside the nest

How rare is it to see a burrowing owl?

Burrowing owl populations have suffered due to habitat loss. As a result, they can be difficult to see, especially near populated areas.

Where is the best place to see burrowing owls?

The best places to observe burrowing owls are in desert, grassland, or grassland habitats where there are other burrowing mammals.

Find a woodchuck town to visit early in the morning and sit quietly with binoculars. If there are burrowing owls or nesting owls, you will see them flying around hunting insects and small mammals.

Burrowing owl looking for food at sunset

When Do Burrowing Owls Come Out?

Burrowing owls are awake throughout the day, but are usually most active at dawn and dusk. This is the best time for owls to hunt, as insects and small mammals are more active at these times.

Burrowing owls can still be seen sitting outside their burrows or perching on fence posts during the hottest part of the day, but they are usually less active at this time.

Do Burrowing Owls Stay in One Place?

Most burrowing owl populations are non-migratory, meaning they stay in one place year-round. Permanent residents include those living in Florida, the southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America.

Migratory burrowing owl populations include owls that live outside of Canada and the southwestern United States. Winters in these areas are too cold and snowy for burrowing owls to survive year-round. As a result, birds that breed in these areas migrate to the Southwest and Mexico.

A pair of burrowing owls perched on a post with their heads tilted

Where do burrowing owls live in the United States?

In the United States, burrowing owls can be found in most western states. Populations are found in the grasslands and deserts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and California.

Burrowing owls are also found in the prairies and plains of North and South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. In addition, a subspecies of burrowing owl (Florida) live year-round in the grasslands of central and southern Florida.

Where do burrowing owls live in Canada?

Canada’s burrowing owl populations breed in southeastern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Smaller populations are also found in southern Manito Brazil and in interior British Columbia.

Burrowing owl protecting nest

Where do burrowing owls live in South America?

Burrowing owls are found throughout much of Central and South America, all the way to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the continent. There are also populations in Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, the northern Lesser Antilles, and off the west coast of Mexico.

Where Do Burrowing Owls Live During Winter?

Burrowing owls in Canada and much of the United States migrate to the desert southwestern states, including southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Some migrate south to Mexico during the winter.

In the United States, populations are found throughout the year in Florida and the southernmost regions of the Southwest. While rare, it has been documented in winter as far north as Montana.

Burrowing owls in Mexico and South America are also permanent residents, staying mostly in their territories throughout the winter. However, Central American populations may have migrated slightly southward to Honduras and Guatemala.

During the winter, most of the northern burrowing owls migrate to the southern desert states

Where do burrowing owls live in summer?

During the summer, migratory burrowing owl populations return to their breeding grounds in the plains and prairies of the western United States and Canada. The populations of Florida, Mexico, and Central and South America were largely unchanged.

Do burrowing owls live in groups?

Unlike most other owl species, burrowing owls prefer to live in groups rather than alone. They usually live in groups of up to several hundred of their kind. As mentioned earlier, these birds of prey also often share space with other species, especially burrowing mammals.