Great Horned Owl
A Bird Watcher’s Guide to One of North America’s Most Powerful Owls
A Great Horned Owl can be surprisingly difficult to spot. You may hear one long before you see it.
That deep, resonant “hoo-hoo” drifting through a woodland at dusk is often your first clue. Look carefully into the branches above you. The owl may be sitting motionless, blending almost perfectly with the bark and shadows.
For bird watchers, finding a Great Horned Owl is a memorable experience. This large, powerful owl is widespread, adaptable and remarkably well equipped for hunting after dark. Once you know what to look for, you can greatly improve your chances of seeing one in the wild.
What Does a Great Horned Owl Look Like?
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is one of the largest and most recognisable owls found across North America.
Its most obvious feature is the pair of prominent feather tufts on top of its head. These are commonly called “horns” or “ear tufts,” although they aren’t ears and aren’t used to hear.
The actual ears are positioned on the sides of the head and are largely hidden beneath feathers.
Adults typically have a large, rounded head, prominent yellow eyes and a dark bill. Their plumage varies considerably depending on region, but brown, grey, black and buff tones are common.
The underside is often barred, while the throat can appear noticeably white when the owl is alert.
Then there are the talons.
They are formidable.
A Great Horned Owl has powerful feet and long, curved claws designed to seize prey with tremendous force. Its broad wings also allow it to fly surprisingly quietly, making it an extremely effective nocturnal predator.
Where Can You Find a Great Horned Owl?
One reason bird watchers love this species is its enormous range.
Great Horned Owls occur across much of North and Central America, occupying an impressive variety of habitats. You don’t necessarily need to hike deep into remote wilderness to encounter one.
They can live in:
- Forests and woodland
- Agricultural areas
- Grasslands
- Desert regions
- Wetlands
- Parks and urban fringes
- Suburban areas with mature trees
They are highly adaptable birds.
A pair might establish a territory near farmland where rodents are plentiful, while another lives along the edge of a city park.
For bird watchers, habitat edges are particularly interesting. Look where woodland meets open ground, especially if there are tall trees, dead branches or suitable nesting sites nearby.
When Is the Best Time to See One?
The Great Horned Owl is primarily nocturnal, so don’t expect to find it behaving like a daytime songbird.
Your best opportunities usually come around dusk and dawn.
Start listening before it becomes completely dark. During the breeding season, males and females may call to one another, making vocalisations one of your most useful clues.
Daytime observations are possible, though.
Great Horned Owls sometimes roost in dense foliage or against tree trunks during daylight hours. If you locate a regular roost, approach slowly and keep your distance.
Don’t stare directly at the bird for long periods.
Instead, scan likely branches methodically with binoculars. Their camouflage is excellent, and what initially looks like a patch of bark may suddenly reveal two enormous eyes.
How to Identify a Great Horned Owl by Sound
For many bird watchers, sound is the easiest way to locate this owl.
Its classic call is a deep series of hoots, although descriptions vary because individuals and sexes can produce different vocal patterns.
The sound carries remarkably well through quiet woodland.
Stop occasionally while walking.
Listen.
Then wait.
Owls can call several seconds after you’ve stopped moving, so rushing ahead can cause you to miss the opportunity.
If you hear repeated hoots, try to determine the direction rather than immediately walking toward the sound. Use landmarks to narrow down the location.
This approach is much less disruptive and gives you a better chance of seeing the bird naturally.
What Does the Great Horned Owl Eat?
This owl isn’t a picky hunter.
Its diet can include mammals, birds and other animals, with the exact prey depending heavily on what is available locally.
Common prey includes rabbits, rodents, squirrels, birds and other small to medium-sized animals.
Great Horned Owls are also capable predators of other birds, including other owl species.
That’s worth remembering when you’re studying an area.
If you know a location supports abundant rodents and rabbits, it may also provide good hunting opportunities for a Great Horned Owl.
Watch open areas near woodland after sunset. An owl may perch on a branch, fence post or other elevated position while scanning the ground below.
Great Horned Owl Hunting Behaviour
There is something impressive about watching this owl hunt.
It may sit completely still for several minutes.
Then, without much warning, it launches.
Its broad wings generate surprisingly little sound because specialised feather structures help reduce turbulence and noise. This allows the owl to approach prey with remarkable stealth.
Hearing is also extremely important.
The owl’s facial disc helps collect and direct sound toward its ears, allowing it to detect subtle noises made by potential prey.
For bird watchers, this creates an interesting challenge. You may be watching an apparently motionless bird while it is actively listening to everything happening around it.
Breeding and Nesting
Great Horned Owls are generally early nesters compared with many other birds.
Breeding can begin during winter in some regions, with timing varying according to latitude and local conditions.
Here’s an interesting fact: Great Horned Owls usually don’t build their own nests.
Instead, they often use abandoned nests constructed by other birds. Suitable cavities, platforms and ledges may also be used.
The female usually lays a small clutch of eggs, and both parents play important roles in raising the young.
If you discover a nesting owl, give it plenty of space.
A Great Horned Owl defending a nest can become extremely aggressive, particularly if you approach young birds. Bird watchers should never attempt to get closer simply for a photograph.
A long-lens camera is a much better solution.
How to Photograph a Great Horned Owl
Getting a good photograph requires patience more than luck.
First, learn where the owl regularly roosts. Repeated sightings can help you identify favourite trees and hunting perches.
Use binoculars before reaching for the camera.
Once you’ve located the bird, move slowly and avoid sudden gestures. Keep your distance and don’t surround the owl with other observers.
Early morning and late afternoon can produce better natural light, although low-light photography can be challenging.
A tripod or monopod can help, particularly when using a long telephoto lens.
Most importantly, don’t use a flash on an owl.
A great photograph isn’t worth disturbing a wild bird.
Great Horned Owl vs Other Large Owls
The Great Horned Owl can be confused with several other large owl species.
Its prominent ear tufts are one of its strongest identification features, but don’t rely on them alone.
Pay attention to:
- Overall body size
- Head shape
- Eye colour
- Facial markings
- Plumage pattern
- Vocalisations
- Habitat
- Behaviour
The combination of features is far more reliable than any single characteristic.
If you’re uncertain, make notes about what you observed rather than immediately assigning an identification. You can compare photographs, field guides and recordings later.
Interesting Great Horned Owl Facts
The species has several characteristics that make it particularly fascinating.
They are powerful predators. Their feet and talons allow them to tackle surprisingly large prey.
They have exceptional hearing. Their facial structure and ear placement help them locate sounds in darkness.
They are adaptable. Great Horned Owls can live in habitats ranging from forests to agricultural areas and urban edges.
They use existing nests. Rather than constructing elaborate nests, they frequently take advantage of nests made by other birds.
They can be fiercely defensive. Nesting adults should never be approached closely.
They are excellent camouflage artists. Their mottled feathers can make them almost disappear against tree bark.
Tips for Finding a Great Horned Owl
If seeing one is on your bird-watching list, change your approach.
Don’t simply walk through the woods hoping to get lucky.
Research local sightings and suitable habitat first. Then visit around dusk, listen carefully and scan mature trees with binoculars.
Look particularly closely at thick branches, broken limbs, tree cavities and sheltered areas where an owl could remain hidden during the day.
And remember to look up.
That’s an easy mistake to make.
Many bird watchers spend their time scanning bushes and low branches while a Great Horned Owl is sitting 20 metres above them.
Give These Owls Plenty of Space
A memorable sighting should always leave the bird undisturbed.
Avoid approaching nests, chasing an owl from a perch or repeatedly playing recordings to attract its attention. Playback can interfere with natural behaviour, particularly during breeding.
Instead, settle into a good observation position and let the owl decide what happens next.
That’s often when the magic occurs.
The bird may turn its head toward you. It may silently spread its wings and disappear between the trees. Or it might simply sit there, watching the forest while you watch it.
For bird watchers, that’s part of the appeal.
The Great Horned Owl isn’t always easy to find. But once you learn its habitat, calls and behaviour, your chances improve dramatically. And when those huge yellow eyes finally appear from the darkness, you’ll understand why this remarkable owl has earned such a special place among North America’s most fascinating birds.
