burrowing owl

noun

1. a long-legged terrestrial owl, Athene cunicularia, of North and South America, that digs a nesting burrow in open prairie land.

Word History and Origins

Origin of burrowing owl¹

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Example Sentences

Lights strobed through the night and propane cannons fired to ward off rare burrowing owls, tiny San Joaquin kit foxes, antelope squirrels and other wildlife.

From ProPublica

A small burrowing owl lives in the squirrel holes, and you may catch him easily in the daytime, when he cannot see.

From Project Gutenberg

If it be summer and the sun well down, there will be a burrowing owl to call.

From Project Gutenberg

In passing through a village of prairie dogs, of which we saw great numbers, Mr. Peale killed a burrowing owl.

From Project Gutenberg

Unlike other species of owls, the Burrowing Owl is especially fitted for a subterranean mode of life.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not possible to disassociate the call of the burrowing owl from the late slant light of the mesa.

From Project Gutenberg