Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

by Akari

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: virginianus

Physical Description

Great horned owls are large owls with ear tufts and barred feathers on the underside of its body. It has a bright white patch at the throat, which expands during vocalization. The great horned owl is approximately 45-63 cm and has a wingspan of up to 1.5m (5 ft). Their approximate weight is 0.9-1.8kg (2-4lb). Female great horned owls are usually larger than males. Their iris is yellow and their legs and feet are covered in feathers up to their talons. Great horned owls that live in the sub-Artic areas have a washed out color. In Central America they are darker

Diet and Feeding Habits

Great horned owls eat amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Rodents are especially an important part of its diet. They can take a prey as large as a skunk. Smaller prey is swallowed whole. Great horned owls use their strong talons to capture prey. Eggs may be preyed by foxes, coyotes, raccoons, or wild or feral cats. They listen to sounds that betray a creature's presence. Once they pinpoint their prey it silently swoops in and pounces on its prey. Great horned owls have very few predators, except other great horned owls might attack.

Reproduction

They lay 1-5 eggs (5 is very rare). Average egg breadth is 46.5mm, length 55.2mm, and average weight is 51 grams. Incubation is approximately 32 days. Great horned owls do not build their own nest. They use an old nest that was made by a hawk, eagle, or any other large bird species. Great horned owls sometimes add feathers to line the nest, but usually not much more. This owl species is one of the earliest breeding birds in North America. They find a mate by December and breed in late January. The young owls move onto nearby branches at 6 weeks and fly a week later.

Habitat

Great horned owls habitat extends through North America and South America. They like wooded and open areas. Habitats may include deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests, tropical rainforests, mountainous areas, and deserts.

Role in the Ecosystem

Great horned owls play an important role in the ecosystem as predators. They may hunt during the day or night, so they capture prey of various sizes and species. Great horned owls also have a large or widespread impact on small animal populations. They eat small mammals, amphibians, some reptiles and sometimes an animals as large as the skunk. Great horned owls are carnivores. Carnivores are animals that only eat meat (other animals). Herbivores are animals that only eat plants. Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and meat. Scavengers are animals that consume dead animals. One of the great horned owl’s important niche is their hearing. These owls have the best hearing of all animals and are able to hear sounds 10 times fainter than a human ear can defect. They also have very strong talons that capture and kill prey.

Bibliography

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Horned_Owl various authors Great Horned Owls last updated April 23rd 2007

2) http://www.swbg-adventurecamps.com/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/
chordata/craniata/aves/strigiformes/great-horned-owl.htm

3) http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/jan/papr/ghowl.html Great Horned Owl copyright 1996-2007

4) http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/birds/greathornedowl.html Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus )