The Great Horned Owl

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 10 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #563 in Animals, #15,362 overall

A Phenomenal Hunter

The Great Horned Owl is a phenomenal hunter. When it recognizes the sound of prey, it will hop from tree to tree until it pinpoints the source. Then it silently swoops in with its talons wide and pounces on the unsuspecting prey.

The Great Horned Owl 

Description 

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.

Range and Habitat 

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.

Tiger in the Sky

The Great Horned Owl has been called the "tiger in the sky" because of its fierce nature and its willingness to go after a wide variety of prey, including ones that outweigh it.

Mating and Nesting 

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.

The Great Horned Owl is a solitary bird except during mating season. The males will roost close to the nest until the young fledge and then take off.

Diet 

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.

Stretch...

Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars 

Perfect for watching Great Horned Owls and other Birds of Prey

Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars


Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars

The Nikon Monarch Binoculars

The waterproof, fog-free Nikon binoculars are perfect for outdoor use. Bright, beautifully defined images are delivered by superior quality, multilayer coated lense.O-ring seals and nitrogen gas provide added resistance to the effects of changes in climate, while the durable design and rubber armoring ensure reliable performance and a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use. Worry-free viewing of the great outdoors.

Voice 

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.

Conservation Status 

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

The Great Horned Owl 

YouTube thumbnail
Great Horned Owl

Runtime: 5:08 | 131122 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
Hooting Great Horned Owl

Runtime: 1:13 | 30305 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
great horned owl hoot

Runtime: 0:06 | 149574 views | Comments

automatically generated by YouTube"

 


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

Have you seen any interesting birds lately? 

submit

About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,952 lenses, favorited 444, and has created 198 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses

Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America 

by Chris G. Earley

Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America

Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 11/28/2009)Buy Now

A nice handy guide to hawks and owls, especially for beginners and less experienced birders... Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife Activist 06/2004

An excellent identification guide... the photos are well chosen... the text is clear and concise. Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune 08/18/2004

Resources used to construct this page. 

Dunn, J.L. & Alderfer, J., Editors. 2006. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition. National Geographic Society.

Lynch, W. 2007. Owls of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.

Great Horned Owl, University of Minnesota Raptor Center
Great Horned Owl, Carolina Raptor Center
Great Horned Owl, The Peregrine Fund

Love This Lens? 

If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here (Squidoo members only)

Add this to your lens »

by ElizabethJeanAllen

I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
(more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!