Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, part of a breeding project at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. These are pretty rare around San Diego these days, a victim of the growing population and urbanization of the grasslands. Cunicularia refers to rabbit, perhaps because of their habit of living in old gopher and rabbit holes. Their diet is primarily lizards, insects and the occasional small rodent.

Burrowing Owl - Athene cunicularia

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. This little owl has taken up residence in an old bit of drainage pipe. It's probably drier and cleaner than an old ground squirrel hole anyhow.

Burrowing owls can typically be found hanging outside the burrow during the day. They will forage for bugs during the day and for rodents at night; thus, their hours tend to depend on the food available at that time of year.

Hear a burrowing owl