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Why do burrowing owl nestlings make a sound like a rattlesnake?
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Owl
Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus).
When threatened, burrowing owl nestlings emit a vocalization that mimics the warning buzz of a rattlesnake. This behavior serves as an effective antipredatory defense, as rattlesnakes are frequent inhabitants of the rodent burrows where these owls nest. By producing this sound, the young owls deter potential threats by mimicking a dangerous animal that would typically be found in their environment.1