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That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesGreat Horned Owl
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: virginianus
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. bubo eagle-owl
La. virginianus for Virginia
Largest North American owl, about two feet long with a four foot or greater wing span. Barred with varying brown and gray tones mixed with white on its underside. White throat patch.
Ear tufts give the illusion of horns. They have long curved talons. Large intimidating yellow and black forward facing eyes are immovable. It must turn its head so much it seems it might twist off.
Great horned owls inhabit woodlands, scattered groves in open ranges, deserts, high mountain plateaus, canyons, farms, or even towns from as far north as there are trees in Alaska and Canada, and throughout North and Central America, to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.
Great horned owls’ observant appearance and success as hunters give them a reputation of being wise.
Call of the Great Horned Owl
Their deep eerie hoots give them a place in superstitious folklore, and their blood curdling scream can only be fully appreciated if you are deep in a forest, after dark, alone.
You can fairly easily observe the bird in its natural habitat, or from around a campfire, which they seem to be attracted to, especially since they are almost everywhere.
Their night vision, keen hearing, and swift silent flight make dusk to dawn the ideal time for great horned owls to hunt totally unsuspecting prey.
Great horned owls feed on rodents, small mammals, poultry, game birds and song birds, the bones, fur and feathers of which adorn their nests and the ground below.
They also eat water foul, fish, even skunks.
Great horned owls are so bold many are injured or killed attacking prey. They rob ospreys of fish and sometimes make the mistake of attacking a porcupine.
You may have seen flocks of crows, magpies, or noisy songbirds chasing hawks or owls. Annoying mobs are the smaller species’ only defense against these predators.
A hawk will usually fly while a great horned owl will often perch pretending to be indifferent until it has finally had enough and fly.
Great horned owls build nests high in trees, sometimes as high as 100 feet, of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, or cliff ledges which are normally abandoned after one brood season.
They often claim other hawk, eagle, or crow nests. They usually remain within a few miles of their nest year around.
Females lay two or three dull white eggs which hatch after about a month of incubation and young remain in the nest for about another two months.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends a Square Platform 24 inches on each side mounted 14′ or higher for the Great Horned Owl, (same as for the Red-tailed Hawk.)
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled countersunk pilot holes.
Mount 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to the tree line.
Take great care with this heavy, tall project. Have have it constructed by professional trades workers.
Great Horned Owl
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: virginianus
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. bubo eagle-owl
La. virginianus for Virginia
Largest North American owl, about two feet long with a four foot or greater wing span. Barred with varying brown and gray tones mixed with white on its underside. White throat patch.
Ear tufts give the illusion of horns. They have long curved talons. Large intimidating yellow and black forward facing eyes are immovable. It must turn its head so much it seems it might twist off.
Great horned owls inhabit woodlands, scattered groves in open ranges, deserts, high mountain plateaus, canyons, farms, or even towns from as far north as there are trees in Alaska and Canada, and throughout North and Central America, to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.
Call of the Great Horned Owl
Great horned owls’ observant appearance and success as hunters give them a reputation of being wise. Their deep eerie hoots give them a place in superstitious folklore, and their blood curdling scream can only be fully appreciated if you are deep in a forest, after dark, alone.
You can fairly easily observe the bird in its natural habitat, or from around a campfire, which they seem to be attracted to, especially since they are almost everywhere.
Their night vision, keen hearing, and swift silent flight make dusk to dawn the ideal time for great horned owls to hunt totally unsuspecting prey.
Great horned owls feed on rodents, small mammals, poultry, game birds and song birds, the bones, fur and feathers of which adorn their nests and the ground below.
They also eat water foul, fish, even skunks.
Great horned owls are so bold many are injured or killed attacking prey. They rob ospreys of fish and sometimes make the mistake of attacking a porcupine.
You may have seen flocks of crows, magpies, or noisy songbirds chasing hawks or owls. Annoying mobs are the smaller species’ only defense against these predators.
A hawk will usually fly while a great horned owl will often perch pretending to be indifferent until it has finally had enough and fly.
Great horned owls build nests high in trees, sometimes as high as 100 feet, of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, or cliff ledges which are normally abandoned after one brood season.
They often claim other hawk, eagle, or crow nests. They usually remain within a few miles of their nest year around.
Females lay two or three dull white eggs which hatch after about a month of incubation and young remain in the nest for about another two months.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends a Square Platform 24 inches on each side mounted 14′ or higher for the Great Horned Owl, (same as for the Red-tailed Hawk.)
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled countersunk pilot holes.
Mount 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to the tree line.
Take great care with this heavy, tall project. Have have it constructed by professional trades workers.
Great Horned Owl
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: virginianus
La. strix owl
La. strigis owl
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. bubo eagle-owl
La. virginianus for Virginia
Largest North American owl, about two feet long with a four foot or greater wing span.
Barred with varying brown and gray tones mixed with white on its underside. White throat patch.
Ear tufts give the illusion of horns. They have long curved talons.
Large intimidating yellow and black forward facing eyes are immovable. It must turn its head so much it seems it might twist off.
Great horned owls inhabit woodlands, scattered groves in open ranges, deserts, high mountain plateaus, canyons, farms, or even towns from as far north as there are trees in Alaska and Canada, and throughout North and Central America, to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.
Great horned owls’ observant appearance and success as hunters give them a reputation of being wise.
Call of the Great Horned Owl
Their deep eerie hoots give them a place in superstitious folklore, and their blood curdling scream can only be fully appreciated if you are deep in a forest, after dark, alone.
You can fairly easily observe the bird in its natural habitat, or from around a campfire, which they seem to be attracted to, especially since they are almost everywhere.
Their night vision, keen hearing, and swift silent flight make dusk to dawn the ideal time for great horned owls to hunt totally unsuspecting prey.
Great horned owls feed on rodents, small mammals, poultry, game birds and song birds, the bones, fur and feathers of which adorn their nests and the ground below. They also eat water foul, fish, even skunks.
Great horned owls are so bold many are injured or killed attacking prey. They rob ospreys of fish and sometimes make the mistake of attacking a porcupine.
You may have seen flocks of crows, magpies, or noisy songbirds chasing hawks or owls. Annoying mobs are the smaller species’ only defense against these predators.
A hawk will usually fly while a great horned owl will often perch pretending to be indifferent until it has finally had enough and fly.
Great horned owls build nests high in trees, sometimes as high as 100 feet, of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, or cliff ledges which are normally abandoned after one brood season.
They often claim other hawk, eagle, or crow nests. They usually remain within a few miles of their nest year around.
Females lay two or three dull white eggs which hatch after about a month of incubation and young remain in the nest for about another two months.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends a Square Platform 24 inches on each side mounted 14′ or higher for the Great Horned Owl, (same as for the Red-tailed Hawk.)
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws. Drill countersunk pilot holes in primary work pieces. Drill regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces. This reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly.
Mount 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to the tree line.
Take great care with this heavy, tall project. Have have it constructed by professional trades workers.
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