Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Common
Habitat: Forest, Grassland, Wetland
Activity: Nocturnal (Active at night)
Lifespan: 13 years on average

A very large, powerful predator with ear tufts or “horns,” a large head, yellow eyes, and a conspicuous white throat bib. Great Horned Owls vary in color from nearly white to dark brown and gray. These nocturnal animals have exceptional vision and excellent hearing. By tilting and turning its head, the Great Horned Owl is able to pinpoint both the direction and distance to the source of a sound.

Diet

They eat mostly mammals and birds

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: Bubo virginianus

Scientific Name

Bubo virginianus

Common Name

Great Horned Owl
Breeding Season
October-January
Nesting Season
In Georgia starts December-February
Lifespan
13 years on average

Behavior

Great horned owls are not considered to be a social species, and are solitary except during nesting. They do not migrate but stay in the same general area. Great horned owls communicate with one another by hooting, which is primarily for establishing territory limits. Owls hunt mainly by watching from a snag, pole or other high perch. They swallow their prey whole when possible. When prey is swallowed whole, owls regurgitate pellets of bone and other non-digestible bits about 6 to 10 hours later, usually in the same location where the prey was consumed.

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)

Habitat Types

Forest
Grassland
Wetland

Geographic Distribution

Great horned owls are native to a large geographic range that covers most of North America and extends south into Central and South America.

Local Abundance

Common

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife
No field notes or observations available for this species.

Contribute Your Observations

Have you spotted this species? Your observations help us track populations and understand behavior patterns.

Submit an Observation

Gallery

Audio Call

Video