Approximately 18-20 subspecies are recognized, ranging from Canada to Argentina, with isolated populations in south Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other outlying islands (Voous, 1988). The subspecies A. c. hypugaea, or the western burrowing owl, is the subspecies found in North America, and ranges throughout much of western North America from Canada to Mexico (Desmond et al., 1995). Although much of the species is sedentary, many populations that breed in northern climates migrate to the southern U.S. and Mexico for the winter months.

Red denotes breeding/summer area, purple denotes year-round residence, and blue denotes wintering area.  (Map taken from Peterson, 1990)

World wide distribution of the Burrowing Owl.  (Map taken from Burton, 1984)