GREAT HORNED OWL QUICK FACTS:

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A large, bulky owl with prominent ear tufts, white throat, gray beak, and bright yellow eyes

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Males: back is mottled grayish-brown, chest and belly are rusty brown and heavily barred

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Females: same as male

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Young: more orange-brown than adults, white throat less pronounced, ear tufts shorter

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FAMILY:

 

Strigidae

CLOSEST RELATIVE:

 

Snowy Owl

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GREAT HORNED OWL SIZE:

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Height: Males 51 cm (20.0 in), Females 60 cm (23.6 in)

Weight: Males 1304g (2.9 lb), Females 1509g (3.3 lb)

Wingspan: Males 134cm (52.7 in), Females 143 cm (56.2 in)

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GREAT HORNED OWL RANGE:

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Found year-round in all parts of U.S. and Canada except far northern coastal areas

 

GREAT HORNED OWL HABITAT:

 

Highly adaptable; can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including both coniferous and deciduous forests, swamp forests, mangroves, farmland, deserts, and even city parks

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GREAT HORNED OWL DIET:

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Mostly small mammals such as hares, ground squirrels, and voles; also preys on birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects

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GREAT HORNED OWL VOICE:

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Deep, booming hoots

Males: during breeding, a series of evenly spaced low pitched “hoo”s; to contact other owls or defend territory, often will give a soft, double hoot

Females: higher pitched than males

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GREAT HORNED OWL NESTING:

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Nest Site: a variety of nesting sites; most commonly abandoned nests of Red-tailed Hawk and other birds or squirrels, but also tree cavities, cactus, haylofts, manmade nest platforms, cliffs, and caves

Eggs: 1-4 dull white eggs, hatching about 2 days apart

Incubation: 30-37 days

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GREAT HORNED OWL HUNTING HABITS:

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Opportunistic but primarily a nocturnal perch hunter. Takes a wide variety of prey, often hunts along forest edges, meadows and patchily forested open country.

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GREAT HORNED OWL CONSERVATION STATUS: 

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Not globally threatened; some decline of U.S. populations.

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