Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

 

   

• HABITAT - The Great Horned Owl is found throughout the Americas, ranging from the northern treeline and down to South America. Their habitats varies widely depending on their locality and cab include deserts, wetlands, deciduous and coniferous forests, tropical rainforests, grasslands, tundra edges, parks, suburbs and urban landscapes.
• DIET -The Great Horned Owl is a fierce predator and has a very diverse diet. They hunt at dusk and during the night from a perch, while flying low over the ground, walking on the ground, or even wading into water to get at their prey. They are silent hunters that use their keen eyesight and hearing to locate and capture prey.
• They generally feed on mammals such as mice, voles and rabbits, but will also take gophers, house cats and skunks to name a few. The have also been known to prey on other owls, birds including Osprey, geese and ducks.
• FACTS - Great horned owls are largely nocturnal so they can be difficult to spot. But in the dark after sunset, or just before dawn, they can often be heard vocalizing with their well known series of “hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo”