HWW Species — Great Horned Owl

One of the most widespread and common birds of prey in Canada, the great horned owl has piercing yellow eyes and pointy, tufted ears. With no need to migrate, the great horned owl is likely to be a year-round resident within limited hunting ranges of about eight to 10 square kilometres. This bird’s legendary hooting sounds like a soft yet vibrant whoo-hoo-ho-o-o.

Read more on Canada's wildlife species in Canadian Wildlife magazine or find animal fact sheets at hww.ca.

Great Horned Owl Fact File

Scientific name:

Bubo virginianus

Weight:

Two kilograms (females); one to one-and-a-half kilograms (males).

Appearance:

Enormous yellow eyes set in a broad face, a curved beak and claws, and long, fluffy feathers. Usually brown or grey-brown, with conspicuous barring.

Habitat:

Rarely moves far from its place of birth and can be found in virtually every forested and semi-forested region in North America.

Did You Know?

• The great horned owl is the second-largest owl in Canada, next to the snowy owl. The female is considerably larger than the male.
• This raptor is a formidable hunter and has few natural enemies, though it can be injured when attacking larger prey such as porcupines, skunks or snakes.
• Researchers have established that over 90 per cent of banded great horned owl nestlings had moved less than 80 kilometres when later recovered as adults.
• An early nester, the great horned owl lays and incubates eggs well before the snow disappears and will aggressively defend its nest.
• Shootings and collisions with power lines and highway traffic are the major causes of death for this species. Great horned owls that die of natural causes can reach a great age.
• The great horned owl remains so widely distributed and remarkably tolerant of major habitat disturbance by people that its future seems secure.

—Tobi McIntyre
 

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