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It’s a plane, it’s a bug, it’s a bird — burrowing owl babies

Young Burrowing Owl triplets looking up in unison as a kingbird flies by. Kingbirds often aggressively dive-bomb burrowing owls in order to keep them away from their nests. Burrowing owls are predators and theoretically would eat a baby kingbird, although I’ve never seen it happen. Typically, burrowing owls eat crickets, grasshoppers, and other bugs, as well as mice, frogs, small snakes, and earthworms.

This trio is so cute, all looking up together with big eyes. They are young owls, still being taken care of by their parents, but beginning to hunt bugs on their own.

Burrowing owls are born underground in burrows, often these are burrows built by prairie dogs. They are excellent parents, bringing food to their babies until the young ones are hunting bugs for themselves, and even afterwards for a while.

The adults have barred chests; the babies start getting these barring marks as they get a little older. Baby burrowing owls can be very entertaining to watch as they run and jump and play with each other!

Photo taken on July 16, 2019, near Greeley, Colorado.