Details
Bubo virginianus
The great horned owl is a powerful nocturnal owl widespread across the Americas. Prominent ear tufts and strong talons suit it to taking a wide range of prey.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses forests, deserts, wetlands, farmland, and city parks. Good habitat combines open hunting areas with trees, cliffs, or other daytime roosts.
Length is 46-64 cm and weight 900-2500 g. It has a bulky body, large yellow eyes, horn-like ear tufts, and barred grey-brown to reddish-brown plumage.
Nocturnal pairs maintain territories. From branches or rocks they launch in quiet flight and pin prey with powerful feet.
A carnivore, it eats rabbits, rodents, skunks, birds, reptiles, and other animals. It can subdue prey approaching its own size.
It does not build its own nest, instead using old hawk or crow nests, cavities, ledges, or similar sites. Breeding can begin early in the season, and both adults defend the young.
It is listed as Least Concern. The species adapts well to many landscapes, though vehicle strikes and secondary poisoning can affect local birds.
