The Great
Horned Owl is the largest “eared” owl in North America.
(“Eared” meaning having ear tufts - feathers standing
up on their heads but not related to hearing at all.) The only owl
larger than the Great Horned is the Great Gray Owl that lives far to the north.
The Great Horned averages 25 inches in height with
a wingspan up to 55 inches (almost 5 feet!). Depending on habitat, Great Horned Owls’
average weight can vary. In North Carolina, the average weight
of a male is 1300 grams and the average weight of a female is 1700
grams. As with all birds of prey, the male is smaller. Otherwise,
in appearance, males and females are the same.
The Great Horned Owl varies in color, often being reddish, dark sooty brown and/or gray. Underneath it is mottled usually buff
or tawny colored with slight barring. It has a prominent white throat
and, of course, the widely spaced ear tufts. Feathers go from the
top of the head to the talons. It also has large, brilliant yellow
eyes.
These birds are highly adaptable and live in a variety of habitats.
They live in conifer forests, deserts, swamps, open country and
even city parks. They like to roost in conifer trees but if one
is not available they will roost in oak trees that have leaves still
attached in the fall and winter. They are wide ranging in North
America, all the way from the Arctic to Mexico.
 Great Horned Owls, as are all birds of prey, are carnivores. They
have a varied diet and eat a wide range of animals. Favorite foods
of these “tigers of the woods” are rabbits and skunks.
Other animals that are also dining delights are grouse, mice, voles,
lizards, frogs, large insects and groundhogs.
The Great Horned Owl is the “hoot” owl. Its call is
probably the best known of any owl. It sounds almost Mourning Dove
like with the voice of the owl in a series of far-reaching hoots:
hoo, hoo-hoo, HOO HOO.
These birds are one of the first to nest during the year. Courtship
begins in early December and couples pair up and begin to roost
together. Mating begins in late December and females lay eggs as
early as late January. Eggs hatch at about 35 days, so babies can
be born by the end of February. The female lays 2 or 3 white eggs
and nesting sites can range from the bare ground to unused stick
nests left behind by hawks, herons or crows. Newly hatched young
stay with parents until June. By August pair bonds have terminated
and birds lead nearly a solitary existence until December when courtship
begins again. |
