Month 10 · October · Wave 1

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus · Strigidae

Powerful nocturnal hunter with a deep hoo-hoo-hooo call.

At a glance

Size: 18–25 in
Wingspan: 3.3–4.8 ft
Habitat: Woods, deserts, suburbs, parks — very adaptable
Diet: Mammals (rabbits, rodents), birds, reptiles

Range: Alaska to South America

Nesting: Reuse of large stick nests or tree cavities; fiercely defensive of young.

Coloring pose idea: On moonlit pine branch, ear tufts up

Hear this bird

General call / song: Deep rhythmic hoots: hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo.

Mating / display: Pair / courtship recordings are linked below when Audubon labels them. Original note — Male–female duets of overlapping hoots in late fall and winter courtship.

Buttons open trusted public pages with playable recordings. We link out — we do not host or embed the audio.

Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide Mating / courtship calls

How to know it

Large owl with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes.
Mottled brown/gray camouflage; white throat bib.
Silent flight thanks to specialized feather edges.

Behavior

Nests early — often sitting on eggs in midwinter.
Takes over old hawk, crow, or squirrel nests.
One of the few predators that regularly eats skunks.

Fun facts

Ear tufts are display feathers, not true ears.
Grip strength in the talons is extraordinary.
Found in more habitats than almost any other New World owl.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.

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