How long do burrowing owls live?
The oldest Burrowing Owl on record lived to 11 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild burrowing owls live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 11 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–12 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 7.5–9.8 in, 5.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 6 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Burrowing Owl can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Burrowing owls usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 4–12 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 28 days to hatch.
How burrowing owls compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other owls on this site.
- Barred Owl34 years
- Great Horned Owl29 years
- Eastern Screech-Owl20.7 years
- Western Screech-Owl19 years
- Northern Saw-whet Owl17.5 years
More about burrowing owls
Frequently asked
How long do burrowing owls live?
The longest-lived Burrowing Owl on record reached 11 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild burrowing owls live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Burrowing Owl when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Burrowing Owl ever recorded?
11 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Burrowing Owl raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–12 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info