Burrowing Owl, watercolor on 140lb paper. The burrowing owl (*Athene cunicularia*) is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America, from the grasslands of the Great Plains to the deserts of the American Southwest and the open savannas of South America. Unlike most owls, it is active during the day as well as at night, and true to its name, it nests and roosts in underground burrows — either ones it digs itself or those abandoned by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or tortoises. It stands only about 7–10 inches tall, with a round, flat-topped head, bright yellow eyes, and a distinctive white "eyebrow" stripe that gives it an eternally stern expression. Its plumage is a mottled brown and white that blends seamlessly with dry, sandy soil. Burrowing owls are opportunistic hunters, feeding on insects, small mammals, lizards, and even small birds, and they are known to decorate the entrance of their burrows with dung, feathers, and other debris — believed to attract insects as a convenient food source. They are highly social compared to other owl species, sometimes nesting in loose colonies, and their calls include a distinctive two-note *coo-coooo* that carries across open terrain.
