The Great Horned Owl

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The Great Horned Owl is a large bird measuring 18 to 25 inches in length with a wingspan of up to 5 feet. It is a dark brown to reddish-brown owl with a squared off head. Its face is dominated by large tufts or "horns" and big yellow eyes with a distinctive stark white throat patch. The breast of the Great Horned Owl is a mottle gray and its belly barred. Its feet are large and feathered clear down to the toes.

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The Great Horned Owl's range extends throughout most of North and South America. They are less common in areas with extreme climate conditions such as the tundra in the winter and deserts in the summer. They are a highly adaptable bird and can be found in a variety of habitats such as city parks and residential areas. Their preferred terrain is densely forested regions with a mixture of conifers and hardwoods.

The Great Horned Owl utilizes the nests other birds (usually the Red-tailed Hawk's). The nests can be found in hollowed out trees, on man-made platforms, cliff ledges or cave entrances. The clutch usually consists of 1 to 3 eggs and is incubated for 26 to 35 days. The young start branching (hopping out of the nest onto a nearby branch) between 6 and 7 weeks, but don't fully learn to fly until 10 to 12 weeks of age. The fledglings stay close to their parents for up to 5 months.

Considered one of the most voracious raptors, the Great Horned Owl feeds on a wide variety of prey, such as waterfowl, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and rodents. When given the choice, the Great Horned Owl will go for the largest available prey. Larger prey offers a greater return on the energy expended to capture it.

The Great Horned Owl uses a variety of hunting techniques. The favored method is the perch-and-wait. When spotting prey from a perch, the Great Horned Owl will dive down with its wings folded and snatch the prey with its talons. With 500 pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons, the prey is usually killed instantly.

Another method is to walk along the ground or wade in the water and grab whatever crosses its path. It will also fly low to the ground and snatch up its prey on the fly. It is a nocturnal hunter, but will hunt during the day when food is scarce.

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The Great Horned Owl hoots and has frequently been referred to as a "hoot owl." Its call is a simple whooo-whooo-whoooooo-who-who. The male's vocalizations are more elaborate, richer, and deeper than the females. Young owls will hiss and spit when threatened.

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The Great Horned Owl is fairly common throughout its range. It is not currently on any endangered or threatened species lists.

Owls of the United States and Canada
by Wayne Lynch


Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

Wayne Lynch began work as a full-time science writer and photographer in 1979. Today he is the author of numerous award-winning books and television documentaries and one of Canada's best-known and most widely published photographers.

Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival
by James R. Duncan Ph.D.


Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival

Reviews Posted on Amazon.com
A fascinating portrait of 205 species of owl... explores myth and legends... intriguing facts are brought to light. -- Suzanne Hively, Cleveland Plain Dealer 11/26/2003

Copious color photographs effectively illustrate concepts and enhance the book's visual appeal... a valuable addition to any natural history collection. -- Catherine Jeanjean, Library Journal 12/01/2003

Extremely accessible yet scientific work... Many of the numerous color photographs are breathtakingly beautiful. -- Nancy Bent, Booklist / RBB 12/15/2003

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