Great Horned Owl

A great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a large, nocturnal owl native to the Americas. It is one of the most common owls in the region and is known for its prominent ear tufts and its deep, hooting call. 🦉

The great horned owl has a stocky body with a brownish-gray plumage that is mottled with black and white. It has a round face with large, yellow eyes and a short, curved beak. Its most distinctive feature is its two prominent ear tufts, which are not ears but are tufts of feathers.

Great horned owls are highly adaptable and are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and urban areas. They are carnivores and apex predators. Their diet is diverse and includes a variety of animals, from small rodents and rabbits to larger birds and even skunks, which they are known to have a tolerance for.

Great horned owls are solitary and nocturnal hunters. They have excellent night vision and a silent flight, which allows them to sneak up on their prey. Their call is a deep, four to five-note hoot, often transcribed as "who's awake? me too." They are one of the earliest nesting birds in North America, with the females laying eggs in late winter.