Unusual record of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) in Costa Rica after 120 years

Abstract

The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is considered a vagrant as well as a migratory species in Central America with very few reports in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. On 28 November 2020 we observed an individual Burrowing Owl at La Ceiba, Orotina, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. This was an unusual record for the country, and is of importance as there have been no confirmed records of the species in Costa Rica for 120 years. This sighting also emphasizes the importance of the area as a suitable habitat for migratory and resident birds, so its conservation and proper management is essential to preserve biodiversity.