Great horned owl
A big night hunter with feathery "horns" and a deep hoot, found from the saguaro desert to the Everglades, hunting after dark on silent wings.
Great horned owl at a glance
Bubo virginianus grayt HORND owl; Bubo virginianus is BYOO-boh ver-jin-ee-AY-nus
- Type
- Bird · owl
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Size
- It stands about 2 feet tall (up to 25 inches), and its wings spread about 4 feet across, close to a grown-up's outstretched arms. It weighs around 3 pounds, about as much as a bag of apples.
- Lifespan
- Around 13 years in the wild, and some live much longer.
- Conservation
- Least concern
Eats rabbits, mice, skunks, birds, reptiles
The great horned owl hunts at night, gliding down on silent wings and grabbing prey with its feet. Its grip is strong enough to crush a small animal, and it is one of the few hunters that will eat a skunk.
Should you worry?
This owl hunts small animals at night and will not come after you. The one time it can act fierce is near its nest, so if you spot a nest, keep well back and give the parents space. Never pick up a fallen owl or feather. Watching quietly from a distance is the way to enjoy one.
The great horned owl is a night hunter, and most of what makes it good at the job you cannot see from the trail. It stands about two feet tall with a four-foot wingspan, close to a grown-up’s arms held straight out, and its wing feathers have soft, fringed edges that hush the sound of moving air. It comes down out of the dark on silent wings, and the mouse never hears it.
The “horns” are a trick of the name. Those pointed feathers on its head are ear tufts, not ears, not horns, just feathers that stand up. The real ears are hidden holes on the sides of the head, and they sit a little crooked, one higher than the other, so a sound reaches one ear a hair before the other and the owl can pin a rustle in total darkness. Its feet close with a crushing grip, far stronger than a person’s hand, and it is one of the few animals that will hunt and eat a skunk, spray and all.
By day it is nearly invisible, mottled brown and gray against the bark, and it will not bother a person walking past. The exception is a nest. A parent owl defends one fiercely, so if you find one, keep well back, leave any fallen feather where it lies, and watch quietly from a distance.
Did you know?
- The "horns" on its head are not ears and not horns. They are just tufts of feathers. Its real ears are hidden holes on the sides of its head, and they sit a little crooked, one higher than the other, which helps the owl find prey in the dark by sound.
- Its feet grip with a crushing force of about 300 pounds per square inch, far stronger than a person's hand.
- The great horned owl is one of the only animals that regularly hunts and eats skunks, spray and all.
Common questions
Are great horned owls dangerous to kids?
Not to people walking by. They hunt small animals at night. Just keep your distance from any nest, since a parent owl will defend it.
Do great horned owls really have horns?
No. Those pointed feathers are called ear tufts. They are not ears and not horns, just feathers that stick up.
What do great horned owls eat?
Rabbits, mice, birds, and reptiles, and they are one of the few animals that will eat a skunk.
How do owls fly so quietly?
Their wing feathers have soft, fringed edges that hush the sound of the air, so prey does not hear them coming.