About the Horned Owl

The great horned owl is a large bird of prey that is native to North and South America. Great horned owls are the most common owls in their range and one of the largest types of owls. The great horned owl is also a member of the genus bubo, which includes the largest of all owl species, the eagle owl.

  1. Description

    • Great horned owls are 18 to 25 inches tall, have wingspans of 3 to 5 feet and weigh 2 to 5 1/2 lbs. These imposing birds, which have brown to gray-brown coloring, get their name from the tufted feathers on the top of their heads that look a bit like horns. The great horned owl's eyes are shaped like a cat's; hence, they are sometimes referred to as cat owls.

    Habitat and Range

    • The great horned owl can be found from northern Canada, throughout all of the United Stares and Central America, down to the tip of South America. However, the bird is not present in areas of north-central South America. Great horned owls are adaptable; they can live in urban or rural areas, but prefer wooded habitats. Horned owls tend to make their homes in hollowed-out trees, stumps and caves.

    Diet

    • Most of what great horned owls eat is swallowed whole. The bones and fur are later regurgitated in a condensed pellet. The majority of a horned owl's diet consists of small mammals such as woodchucks, rabbits, rats and squirrels. The birds also feed on ducks, geese, quail and turkeys. They are nocturnal hunters who use their powerful eyesight to spot prey on the ground. The owls then drop down to grab their prey with their large, clawed feet.

    Life Cycle

    • Great horned owls are solitary birds, but they come together in late winter to mate. The courting males and females sing songs to each other as part of the mating ritual. Once the birds have mated, they find an abandoned nest in which to lay their eggs. The average clutch is two or three eggs. The parents take turns incubating the eggs, which hatch after about 27 days. Both parents then look after their chicks, protecting them fiercely until they are ready to leave the nest, which usually takes 1 to 2 months. In the wild, horned owls live 5 to 15 years.