They are nocturnal and perch close to tree trunks to blend in, so they are one of the more difficult owls to spot. They live in the mountains of Colorado from about April to October, then winter in Mexico and Central America. These are Colorado’s smallest owls, measuring only about 6-7 inches. Information about Burrowing Owl conservation efforts can be found in Conservation Plan for Grassland Species in Colorado and Recommended Survey Protocol and Actions to Protect Nesting Burrowing Owls. More about Burrowing Owls can be found in the July/August 2017 and September/October 2018 issues of Colorado Outdoors. Burrowing Owls nest in Colorado, but move to Mexico and the southwestern U.S. Most common on the Eastern plains, Burrowing Owls are a ground-dwelling species, so you won’t see them in trees. These owls are one of the few that are diurnal (active during the day) while most other owl species are nocturnal. Burrowing Owls mostly feed on insects, which they catch with their feet. The owls typically make their homes in abandoned prairie dog burrows however, they can dig their own burrows if ready-made ones aren’t available. This is because they live in prairie dog towns, which are rapidly disappearing. Burrowing Owlīurrowing Owls are a threatened species in Colorado. They get their name from their habit of making their nests in barns, attics, and abandoned buildings. Unlike true owls, Barn Owls also have distinctive downward-facing bills that resemble noses. Barn Owlīarn Owls are Colorado’s only owls from the Tytonidae family – all of the others are of the family Strigidae, sometimes known as “true owls.” What makes barn owls different? The main reason is that they have distinctive heart-shaped faces that differ from the rounder face shapes of the true owls. Each species has its own unique traits, with significant differences in size, appearance, habitat, diet, vocalization, and behavior. They can be found in all parts of the state, in all of the state’s ecosystems. You may be surprised that Colorado has fourteen very different species of owls.
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