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

In March, the center, along with the Defenders of Wildlife, the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, the Urban Bird Foundation, the Central Valley Bird Club and the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society, filed a petition with the commission seeking endangered or threatened status for burrowing owl populations.

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California wildlife policymakers have opted to protect the diminutive Western burrowing owl as they consider listing the rapidly declining species as endangered or threatened.

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The burrowing owl is a California species of special concern, a U.S.

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“After decades of effort to safeguard declining burrowing owl populations in California, the species has finally been afforded interim state protections where they’re most needed — at least for the time being,” said Pamela Flick, California program director with Defenders of Wildlife, in a statement.

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Advocates say the decline of the burrowing owl in California has accelerated.

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