Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Wingspan

100–145cm

Body length

45–65cm

Weight

700–1,600g

Profile

Life expectancy
Clutch size: 1–4 eggs
Global status
Activity
Migration

Identification

A powerful owl with yellow eyes, prominent ear tufts and a white throat patch. Broad, rounded wings and a compact body characterise its flight silhouette. The brown to grey base colour varies regionally.

Colours

Plumage

Eyes

Legs & feet

Adult

Greyish-brown to brownish plumage with dark barring, a white throat patch and yellow eyes. The colouring varies markedly by region.

Behaviour

It becomes active especially at dusk and dawn. Pairs defend their territory with deep call series. When threatened, it also snaps its bill and hisses; by day it is sometimes given away by scolding crows or songbirds.

Breeding & rearing

It often takes over old nests of buzzards, crows or other birds. Tree holes, rock ledges and structures are also used. The young are at first covered in soft down and are still fed after leaving the nest.

Diet

Prey examples

Rabbits

Hares

Mice

Songbirds

The Great Horned Owl hunts mainly mammals such as rabbits, hares and mice, as well as birds. Other animal groups and occasionally carrion broaden its wide diet.

Hunting

From a perch it locates small mammals and birds by sight and hearing. It then approaches in silent flight and seizes the prey with its powerful talons.

Distribution

Range

North & South America

Habitat

Forests, copses, open country and wetlands with suitable perches.

Old mixed broadleaf forest with clearings and forest edges — Forests

Open meadows, fields and varied hedgerow landscape — Meadows & fields