Great Horned Owl  Bubo virginianus

Great Horned Owl  Bubo virginianus

A large aggressive and powerful hunter the Great Horned Owl is widespread throughout habitats of forest, open country, swamps and deserts of the Americas north to near the treeline.  One of the only animals that regularly eat skunks it also kills and eats other owls, Osprey nestlings, as well as killing adult and nestling Peregrine Falcons.  Mammals and birds consist of the majority of its diet which also includes reptiles, amphibians, insects and scorpions.  Mostly a night hunter the Great Horned Owl may store the frozen carcass of its prey only to thaw it out later in northern winters.
With a height of up to 25 in. and a wingspan of up to 57 in. the female is larger than the male.  It typically uses the old nests of hawks, eagles, herons or crows for nest sites often 20 to 60 ft. above ground.

Copyright Mark Tiefenbach Deepbrook Nature Photography
Copyright Mark Tiefenbach Deepbrook Nature Photography