The long-legged owl that hunts on the ground and lives in abandoned tunnels

Nature · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Unlike its nocturnal, tree-dwelling cousins, the burrowing owl is a daylight-active raptor that thrives in open grasslands. These small, sandy-colored birds possess unusually long legs for sprinting and have evolved to live underground, often repurposing the abandoned homes of prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or even artificial human-made pipes.

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) defies many common owl stereotypes. Rather than hunting from forest perches, these birds occupy open landscapes across the Western Hemisphere, from Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Their anatomy reflects this terrestrial lifestyle; they have developed longer legs than other owls, allowing them to pursue prey on foot across the ground. While they are capable of flight, they typically only take to the air in short bursts to escape threats or navigate their territory.

Living underground presents unique physiological challenges, specifically regarding air quality. Burrowing owls have evolved a higher threshold for carbon dioxide than other avian species, an adaptation shared by various burrowing mammals that spend extended periods in subterranean environments where gas levels can rise. To ensure their survival, they are opportunistic nesters, frequently moving into tunnels previously excavated by badgers, foxes, or rodents. When natural burrows are scarce, they have been observed using human-made materials like PVC piping.

Their behavior is equally distinct. They are often active during the day, though they favor the cooler temperatures of dawn and dusk. When threatened, nestlings produce a sound remarkably similar to the warning buzz of a rattlesnake, a common co-inhabitant of these burrows. Furthermore, they exhibit a strange ritual before laying eggs: they carpet their burrow entrances with animal dung to attract beetles, which they then consume. They also decorate these entrances with various human-discarded items, such as bottle caps and cigarette butts, potentially as a signal that the burrow is occupied.

The species faces significant conservation hurdles. Their populations have declined sharply due to the loss of habitat and the disappearance of the burrowing mammals whose tunnels they rely on. Managing these populations often requires complex ecological trade-offs, such as balancing the needs of the owls with other endangered species that share their environment. Despite these pressures, they remain a resilient example of evolutionary adaptation to open, arid ecosystems.

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