Great Horned Owl
A large, feather-tufted owl. Eyes are large and yellow and surrounded by a distinct orange facial disk. Ear tufts are long feathers. Throat feathers are white and show plainly when owl hoots. Body is light brown overlaid with a complex patterning of black.
Behavior: Hunts from perch. Dives low and glides on silent wings. Rises abrupty out of glide to perch. Hoots from late fall through summer. Young screech for food.
Habitat: Various woodland types including neighborhoods, parks and cemeteries.
Range: Throughout North America except for extreme artic.
Abundance: Common throughout range.
Nesting: Starts courtship in fall. Lays 1 to 6 eggs as early as January in stolen nest or in a stump or log. Female does most of incubation. Young mature slowly and may not be independent until fall.
Food: Nearly any animal smaller than itself,
including skunks.
