Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class birds
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae
Genre Speotyto
SpeciesSpeotyto cunicularia
Owls belong to the Order Strigiformes, and are divided into two families: Strigidae and Tytonidae. With approximately 125 representatives worldwide, eighteen are found in national territory. One of them is the Speotyto cunicularia, or burrowing owl, as it is popularly known.
This owl is approximately 23 centimeters in size, the female being a little smaller and darker than the male. Both have a round head, yellow eyes and a color that varies between brown and rust. They have excellent hearing and, despite having a limited visual field, are able to turn their heads at an angle of 270 degrees. Such adaptations allow them to efficiently capture their prey: insects, small rodents, amphibians and smaller birds.
It is a very well known species - perhaps because it is the only one that has daytime habits, which facilitates its visualization. At this time of day, it remains in its shelter or on termite mounds, stakes, wires and tree stumps. It is quite active at night, especially during twilight.
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Shelters are abandoned holes or burrows for other animals or, in rarer cases, constructions made by the owls themselves, with the help of their beaks and their long clawed paws. As it is a monogamous species, this space is usually occupied by a couple, and it is also where the female will deposit her approximately five eggs. When these hatch, the male assists the young, for an average period of two months, giving food and protecting the nest from potential invaders, being quite aggressive in these cases.
The reproductive period starts between March and April.
Due to habitat destruction, the survival of this species has been considerably threatened.
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
ARAGUAIA, Mariana. "Bulling Owl (Speotyto cunicularia)"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/animais/coruja.htm. Accessed on July 27, 2021.
