October 2007
The Haunting Great Horned Owl
The Haunting Great Horned Owl can be found throughout Ohio. They are most numerous in open field areas where there are wooded areas close by.
The great horned owl is known for its large yellow eyes and its brown tufts of feathers on its head that look like ears. This large bird is normally about 1 ½ feet tall, but it can grow as large as 2 feet tall. When the great horned owl spreads its wings, it can measure 4 ½ to 5 feet across. As big as they are, they normally weigh in around 3 pounds!
The feathers of the great horned owl are brown with black and buff feathers mixed in. Their back is a deep mottling of these colors. The belly of these owls is buff colored with heavy barring of deep brown. These feathers grow all they way down the legs of the great horned owls and even cover their toes.
Great horned owls cannot really turn their heads all the way around. However, they can turn their heads far enough around to be able to see behind them. Owls have to be able to turn their heads like this as they cannot move their eyes like we do. In order to see to their side, they have to turn their whole head!
Mice, rabbits, rats and squirrels make up a large portion of the great horned owls diet. They will also eat other animals such as ducks, snakes, fish and sometimes even insects! Owls are nocturnal which means they do their hunting at night and they sleep during the day.
The nests of the great horned owls are abandoned nests of other birds. Sometimes they will line these nests with their own feathers, but not always. Great horned owls will also use the old nests of squirrels, or just an open cavity in a tree.
The calls of the great horned owl are low-pitched and quite loud. They call “ho-ho-hoo hoo”. Listen to its deep call.
Can you make the sound like the Haunting Great Horned Owl? |