Photographer: Billy Hunt
Great Horned Owl Range Map
(N, C & S America)
|
| Latin Name |
Bubo virginianus |
| Conservation Status |
Least Concern |
| Location
| N, C & S America |
| Colour |
Red/Brown to Dk Grey |
| Length |
50 - 63 cm (20 - 25 inches) |
| Wingspan |
91 - 152 cm (36 - 60 inches) |
| Weight |
900 - 2,500 g (32 - 88 oz) |
| Life Expectancy |
Up to 13 Yrs (Wild)
Up to 30 Yrs (in Captivity) |
Main Characteristics
Great Horned Owls are the largest of the American Owls and they are between 50 and 63 cms (20 - 25 inches) in length, they have a wingspan between 91 and 152 cms (36 - 60 inches) and they weigh between 900 and 2,500 g (32 - 88 oz).
The colouration of Great Horned Owls can be from reddish/brown to dark grey, depending on their geographic location. Adults have large ear tufts and large yellow eyes. They have large feet and their legs and feet are feathered up to their talons.
Habitat
Great Horned Owls are found in North, Central and South America and they inhabit a variety of areas including open woodland, agricultural areas, forests, deserts, subarctic tundra and urban areas.
Diet
Great Horned Owls feed on a variety of prey including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.
They hunt at night from perches in open areas and they are capable of catching prey 2 - 3 times heavier than themselves.
Breeding
Great Horned Owls breed from January to February and instead of building their own nest, they utilize nests that belonged to other birds or squirrels, or they use tree hollows, rocky caves, abandoned buildings or artificial platforms.
The female lays 2 - 4 eggs and incubates them for 26 - 35 days. They begin to leave the nest at 6 - 7 weeks old and can fly well at 9 - 10 weeks old.
Predators
Predators of Great Horned Owls include northern goshawks, other Great Horned Owls and humans.
Subspecies
Subspecies of Great Horned Owl include:
Common Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus virginianus)
South American Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus nacurutu)
Northern Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus subarcticus)
California Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus pacificus)
Coastal Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus saturatus)
North Andean Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus nigrescens)
Desert Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus pallescens)
Yucatan Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus mayensis)
Baja California Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus elachistus)
Northeastern Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus heterocnemis)
Northwestern Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus lagophonus)
Central American Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus mesembrinus)
Interesting Facts
Great Horned Owls are also known as:
Hoot Owls
Cat Owls
Winged Tiger
Similar Animals
Magellanic Horned Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Cape Eagle-Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Greyish Eagle-Owl
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