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BURROWING OWLS
Cape Coral's Beloved Official City Bird
Cape Coral is home to Florida’s largest population of burrowing owls, making our community one of the best places to experience these remarkable little birds in the wild.
Unlike most owls, they live, nest, and raise their young underground in burrows throughout neighborhoods, parks, golf courses, vacant lots, and protected natural areas.
Cape Coral continues to experience rapid residential and commercial growth, placing increasing pressure on the open spaces and sandy habitats that burrowing owls depend on. Protecting these remaining natural areas is increasingly important to help ensure these remarkable birds continue to thrive throughout our community.
Recent annual burrowing owl census results conducted by
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife highlight the importance of continued conservation efforts.
- 2026: 7,828 owls
- 2025: 7,008 owls
- 2024: 5,098 owls
- 2023: 4,214 owls
Source: Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Annual Burrowing Owl Census.
Despite the City's substantial burrowing owl population, the species is listed as State Threatened in Florida
due to continued habitat loss and development pressures.
FWC Definition: A State-designated Threatened species is a
species native to Florida that has been classified as Threatened
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
in accordance with Florida’s state-listing criteria.
Every protected burrow and every acre of conserved habitat helps secure a future where these iconic birds continue to thrive.
Meet Some of Cape Coral's Favorite Neighbors
🦉 Whatcha Lookin' At?
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉You Guys Seeing This?
🦉 Well... This Is Awkward.
🦉You Guys Seeing This?
📍 Where to Find Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral
You don’t have to travel to a remote preserve to see burrowing owls in Cape Coral. These remarkable birds can be found throughout the city, often surprisingly close to where people live, work, and play.
Burrowing owls are commonly found in:
- Vacant lots
- Neighborhood green spaces
- Parks
- School campuses
- Golf courses
- Utility easements
- Protected conservation properties
- Other open, grassy areas with sandy soil
If you’re lucky enough to spot one, enjoy the experience from a respectful distance and give the owl and its burrow plenty of space.
🦉 Life at the Burrow
Home Beneath Our Feet
For a burrowing owl, the burrow is more than a nest. It provides shelter from predators and weather and serves as the center of daily life.
Only a small entrance is visible above ground, but the tunnel below may extend 10 feet or more, creating a protected underground refuge.
Burrowing owls spend much of their time close to their burrows, using them as a safe retreat while remaining connected to the activity above ground.
Daily Life Around the Burrow
Throughout the day, an active burrow can be a busy place. Owls may stand guard near the entrance, rest nearby, move in and out of the burrow, or quietly watch the activity around them.
Every visit can reveal something different, making an active burrow a fascinating window into the everyday life of Cape Coral’s burrowing owls.
🦉 Fascinating Owl Facts
Amazing Things You May Not Know
👀 They Can Turn Their Heads About 270°
Burrowing owls cannot rotate their heads completely around, but they can turn them approximately 270 degrees, allowing them to keep watch on their surroundings without moving their entire body.
❤️ Many Burrows Become Multi-Year Family Homes
Some burrowing owls return to familiar nesting areas year after year. For many Cape Coral residents, watching a neighborhood owl family return has become a cherished tradition.
🍽️ Hunting & Food
Tiny Hunter. Big Appetite.
Burrowing owls may be small, but they are remarkably skilled hunters. They pursue a surprising variety of prey both on the ground and in flight.
Their diet changes with the seasons, but insects make up much of their menu. Grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, spiders, and moths provide an abundant food source. They also hunt small lizards, frogs, mice, snakes, and other small prey whenever the opportunity arises.
During nesting season, hunting becomes especially important as adults work to provide enough food for their growing young.
🌿 Their Favorite Foods
- Grasshoppers
- Beetles
- Crickets
- Spiders
- Moths
- Small lizards
- Frogs
- Mice and other small rodents
- Small snakes
🦉 Did You Know?
Burrowing owls provide valuable natural pest control. By consuming large numbers of insects and small rodents, they help maintain a healthy balance in Cape Coral’s natural environment.
🦉 Burrowing Owl Life Cycle
💕 Spring
Courtship & Nest Preparation
Adult pairs prepare their nesting site, strengthen pair bonds, and get ready for the breeding season.
🥚 Late Spring
Eggs Are Laid
The female lays 6 to 10 eggs in a protected chamber below the surface while the male helps defend the territory and provide food.
🐣 About 4 Weeks Later
Owlets Hatch
Tiny owlets hatch underground, where they remain protected while their parents feed and care for them.
👀 Early Summer
First Peek Outside
As they grow, curious owlets begin appearing at the burrow entrance, watching the world around them and gradually exploring their surroundings.
🪽 Summer
Learning to Fly & Hunt
Young burrowing owls learn to fly, hunt for food, and become increasingly independent while still receiving guidance from their parents.
🦉 Late Summer & Beyond
Independent Adults
Juvenile owls eventually become independent and begin establishing territories of their own.
💚 Why It Matters
Every successful nesting season depends on safe nesting areas, healthy habitat, and minimal disturbance. Protecting these areas gives the next generation of Cape Coral’s burrowing owls the opportunity to thrive.
😊 Personality & Behavior
💚 Cape Coral's Neighborhood Owl
For many residents, seeing familiar burrowing owls is one of the simple pleasures of living in Cape Coral.
Whether standing beside a burrow, perched nearby, or quietly observing the neighborhood, these birds are a daily reminder that people and wildlife share this community..
🛡️ Challenges They Face
Challenges They Face
Although burrowing owls have successfully adapted to living throughout Cape Coral, they continue to face challenges that can affect their ability to safely nest and raise their young.
Florida burrowing owls are currently listed as a Threatened species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This designation underscores the importance of protecting habitat and reducing avoidable threats to the species.
The Greatest Threats
- Loss of nesting habitat from development
- Disturbance of active burrows
- Vehicle collisions
- Predation by domestic cats and dogs
- Pesticide use that reduces insect populations
- Human disturbance during nesting season
- Fragmentation of remaining open space
