The Burrowing Owl depends mainly on the abandoned burrows of prairie dogs for nesting sites and shelter, and, to some extent, on those of badgers, ground squirrels, woodchucks, foxes, skunks and armadillos.

This owl is a bird of the treeless, shortgrass country, from southern Canada to Argentina.

Burrowing Owls are generally 23 to 26 cm (9 to 10 in.) long. An adult male's wings are each about 17 cm (6 in.) long. Females are usually larger than males.