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Details about the
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A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?
Large in stature and magnificent in flight, the Great Horned Owl is beautiful bird that is commonly heard, though rarely seen, in Indiana and all over the country. Already well-known as symbols of wisdom and warnings of impending doom, there is much more to the Great Horned than the myths and legends that surround owls.
Understanding Great Horned Owls
The Great Horned owl, the most powerful of the common owls, is a visually stunning creature. It is distinguished by its large size, and the feather tufts on its heard that resembles horns (and often mistaken for its ears). Their big, yellow eyes are often compared to those of a cat, and are amplified by the orange facial disk outlined in black. The coloring of the body – hues of browns and grays with black bar markings - make the owl's white throat very prominent. Also standing out is the span of its great wings, approximately 4 - 5 feet from tip to tip.
Owls are mostly nocturnal creatures but can sometimes be spotted in the late afternoon or early morning. Like most owls, Great Horned Owls have keen hearing and sharp vision in low light, both adaptations for hunting at night. Owls can only not see what is right in front of them, but are able to can turn its head over halfway around to see what is behind them. Their beak, small and hooked, does not interfere with their binocular vision which helps determine the distance of their prey. Owls can also catch their prey by using their sense of hearing. Their large ears are covered by special feathers and are located behind the facial dish feathers. These feathers allow the owl to hear even the smallest sound (like a mouse squeaking) up to 900 feet away.
Great Horned owls are fierce hunters that use a sit-and-wait approach, watching from a perch and swooping down on passing prey to seize it with their talons. The talons of this owl can extend to a diameter of 4x8 inches and can close down on its prey with the force of almost thirty pounds. This enables the owl to pick up animals much larger than it. The flight of the Great Horned owl is swift and silent. The wing’s feathers are comb-like with a soft fringe which helps reduces the sound of air rushing through them. Owls are more inclined to glide than fly as well which calls for less wing flapping.
Great Horned owls start nesting in January, raising their families in the dead of winter. The female will incubate the eggs while her mate brings her food. Within a month, up to five eggs will hatch and the owlets will be closely guarded by their parents. Six weeks after hatching, the owlets will leave the nest and walk around. In another three weeks, the young owls with already have learned to fly. The parents will continue to feed and care for their offspring for several months, often as late as October. It is wise to stay away from young owls and their nests as Great Horned Owls are not afraid to attack if they feel their family is threatened.
There aren't many birds or mammals that prey on the Great Horned owl, but it does have its threats. Like most species, man plays a role in threatening the population of Great Horned owls all over the world. Loss of habitat through urban sprawl decreases the owl’s nesting and hunting territories. Certain agricultural practices such as the use of insecticides and pesticides can harm owls that feed on the insects and rodents, reducing their natural food supply.
Fun and Interesting Facts about the Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned owl is also referred to as a cat owl, hoot owl, big-eared owl and “the tiger of the sky” because of its aggressive nature and ability to capture prey much larger than the owl itself.
These owls are part of the genus bubo which is the Latin for "owl" and the species virginianus meaning "of Virginia" where the first specimen of Great Horned owls was found.
A groups of owls are called many things such as "a bazaar of owls", "a glaring of owls", "a parliament of owls", or a "wisdom of owls."
Owls are considered symbols of wisdom and good luck in some cultures, but in others, they are feared as a sign of impending death and doom.
If a Great Horned owl was the same size as a human, its eyes would be as big as oranges.
The color of these birds varies with the area in which they are found. Canadian and Pacific Northwest Great Horned owls are very dark, while the birds found in arid regions are usually very sandy in color. Great Horned owls of the Arctic are practically white. This color trend in coats and plumage is typical in many species.
Great Horned owls occupy a greater variety of habitats than any other North American owl. From forests, deserts and swamps to prairies, farmland and cityscapes, these owls are happy any where there is open land to hunt and trees to perch upon.
Great Horned owls take life-long mates.
These owls do not build nests. Instead, they will raise their young in the abandoned nests of other birds such as hawks, eagles and crows.
Many people believe that an owl can turn its head all away around, but this is not true. Owls have fourteen neck vertebrates that allow them to move their head at 270 degrees, left to right.
Owl pellets are the undigested fur, feathers, bills, claws, teeth, skulls and bones of their last meals. It forms about 6 - 10 hours after the owl has eaten, and is then regurgitated up to six hours later. Gross, huh? Sure is, but this process does help keep the owl healthy.
Speaking of meals, the Great Horned owl is the only animals that eat skunks. Yum!
They will also feast on other birds of prey including owls. In fact, these owls are the Barn owl's natural enemy. Young Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons also fall prey to the Great Horned.
Flocks of American crows are known to harass the Great Horned owl, pestering it for hours or until the owl leaves. The crow's hostility is well-earned as the owl is a major predator to their nestlings and adults. Other small bird species, such as swallows, are also known for this behavior.
These particular owls live longer in captivity (averaging over twenty years) than they would out in the wild (up to the mid-teens).
Facts gathered from All About Birds, Peregrine Fund and Animal Bytes.
"Whooo hoo!"
The call of the Great Horned owl is a classic sound of the wild and can be heard from miles away. The sounds made by the owl vary with its mood and temperament. When calling for its mate, it makes a "who hoo, who hoo" sound. If aggravated, the owl will "clack" with its beak. Young owls will "shriek" or scream for attention.
Thanks to Robert La Follette for sharing this wonderful clip of a Great Horned Owl "hooting" his stuff..
Other videos of our fine feathered friend can be found on YouTube and on the Internet Bird Collection.
For More Information
The Owl Pages - a vast collection of information on all types of owls
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds: The Great Horned owl
USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services information on the Great Horned owl
Birds of Indiana: Great Horned Owl
Peterson Field Guides - Great Horned Owl Identification
The Owling - the largest U.S. site dedicated to owls
The Great Horned Owl at What Bird - an electronic field guide to birds of North America
World Owl Trust - advancing wildlife conservation by focusing on all owl species and their ecology.
For educators...
Teach-nology - Owl's Journey Theme with numerous links to owl-related lessons
BioKids - Inquiries of Diverse Species including the Great Horned owl
Science NetLinks - Lessons about Birds of Prey
Gander Academy - Student activities about owls.
Kid Zone - Coloring pages, mazes, and word games with a Great Horned owl theme
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Peter Manidis (Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation); Photo © Dwight Phillips (pair of great horned owls); Photo © Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen/Cornell Lab of Orinthology (owl in flight).
