Athene cunicularia

Theme area:  Los Trópicos
Scientific name:  Athene cunicularia
Class:  Birds
Continent:  Central America and the Caribbean
Habitat:  Grasslands and Steppes
Diet:  Carnivorous
Weight:  125 - 255 gr
Size:  22 - 25 cm
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Found anywhere from the western and southern United States to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Guyana, northern and western Colombia, western and central Ecuador, southern Chile and Argentina, southern Brazil and is also on several Caribbean islands.

It is a small bird with unusually long, featherless legs. There is no sexual dimorphism, the males and females are practically identical.

It is a diurnal species that is active all day, but concentrates its hunting activity around dawn and dusk. It mainly feeds on arthropods, such as beetles, spiders, scorpions and other insects, as well as small mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

The Burrowing Owl breeds annually and is a monogamous species. It nests in the abandoned burrows of other species like the prairie dog, whose burrow is usually 1 m deep.

Clutches are 3-11 eggs, which will hatch 28-30 days after laying.

Conservation Status
Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near threatened
Least concern
Insufficient data
Not evaluated

DID YOU KNOW ...

It only flies to escape predators or to defend its nest.
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