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Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae
Genus Bubo
Species B. virginianus
Lifespan up to 13 years in the wild (banding record 27 years 9 months)
Size 48-60 inch wingspan; weight: about 3 pounds
Eggs Laid 1 to 4 eggs
Flight Speed About 20-40 mph
Status Somwehat Common
Great Horned Owl

About Great Horned Owls

What are tips for identifying a Great Horned Owl?

Great Horned Owls are the largest North American owls with ear tufts. Their brown camouflaged feathers are offset by white throat feathers and bright yellow eyes. Females are larger than males. Hoots of this owl are deep and distinctive, consisting of five hoots – going with the phrasing “Who’s a-wake? Me too!” Great Horned Owls are widely distributed though southern Canada, the United States and into Central and South America.

What is the habitat of the Great Horned Owl?

These owls do not migrate and are territorial, staying within a home range of several hundred acres. They prefer dense forest (coniferous, hardwood or mixed) near open areas, utilizing by night the same areas as Red-tailed Hawks do by day. Roosting and nesting are often in evergreens.

How do they hunt and what is their prey?

Great Horned Owls usually hunt from a perch, swooping down to snatch prey with their talons. A wide variety of prey are taken including rodents like mice, squirrels and chipmunks, as well as rabbits, opossums, raccoons, skunks, bats, birds (other owls too), and frogs. They will also catch small prey by walking on the ground.

What are some special Great Horned Owl adaptations?

Owls are adapted to be nocturnal predators, with silent flight resulting from soft feathers and serrated wing edges. Their night vision is excellent (black and white rather than color) but they cannot move their eyes in the sockets. However their flexible necks, with 14 vertebrae instead of the seven humans have, enable them to turn their heads 270 degrees. Hearing is excellent, with asymmetrical ears that facilitate pinpointing the site of prey. Their powerful legs, feet and talons enable them to drag prey as heavy as eight or nine pounds even though they themselves weigh only three pounds.


Fun Facts!

  • Have you heard of owl pellets? About eight to twelve hours after a Great Horned Owl has eaten, it regurgitates a three to four inch pellet of fur and bones. Its prey can be identified by the skulls in the pellet because an owl’s digestive juices don’t break down bone.
  • Great Horned Owls are early nesters – they may be snow-covered on the nest as they incubate eggs in late January or February.

Mammals

American Mink
American Mink
Black Bear
Black Bear
Bobcat
Bobcat
Coyote
Coyote
Fisher
Fisher
Gray Fox
Gray Fox
Mountain Lion
Mountain Lion
Red Fox
Red Fox
River Otter
River Otter
White-footed Mouse
White-footed Mouse
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer

Birds

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Goshawk
Goshawk
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Reptiles and Amphibians

American Bullfrog
American Bullfrog
Gray Tree Frog
Gray Tree Frog
Green Frog
Green Frog
Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle

Fish

Brook Trout
Spotted Turtle
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
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