Adapted to desert and forest, the species migrates. It usually eats small rodents and birds but has been known to carry off larger prey. A powerful, mottled-brown predator, it is often more than 2 feet (60 cm) long, with a wingspan often approaching 80 inches (200 cm). These owls make a number of different sounds, but the well-known "hoot" is most commonly heard during the mating season. great horned owl, (Bubo virginianus), horned owl species that ranges from Arctic tree limits south to the Strait of Magellan. The wingspan of the larger female great horned owl is as much as 5 feet. The young are raised and fed by the parents until they can begin catching prey themselves in the fall. The great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus) is a large owl native to both North and South America. They use other birds' nests or lay their eggs in cavities in trees or on rock ledges. The pairs breed in the late fall and winter and nest early in the year, before most migratory birds return. Great Horned Owls have a large repertoire of sounds, ranging from deep booming hoots to shrill shrieks. Great Horned Owls who are paired are permanent residents in one area, but younger and unmated owls move to other areas in search of new territory, mates, or food. The ear openings, which are near the eyes, are placed asymmetrically on its head, one slightly higher than the other, so that the owl has a very good ability to locate a sound's source. The large yellow eyes are fixed and unmoving in their sockets, so the owl must turn its head within a range of three-fourths of a circle to see to the sides. It preys on a variety of animals, mostly mammals, including rabbits, squirrels, woodchucks, mice, cats and skunks, and large birds, such as crows, gulls, geese, chickens and other owls, as well as lizards, frogs, fish, large insects and even skunks. This species can be found in almost all habitats in North America, from the desert to the forest and from northern tundra to city parks. Coloration varies among the subspecies within this owl's wide geographic range, but in the eastern US, it is mottled brown, grey and black, with a white patch on the throat above a light-colored and black-barred breast. The large tufts of feathers on its head are widely spaced, resembling Batman's "ears", but have nothing to do with the owl's ears. One of the biggest American owls, with a body length of 1.5 to 2.5 feet and a wingspan of up to five feet, the Great Horned Owl is widespread and common across the North American continent and into South America. Great horned owls are named for the horn-like feathers on their heads Their round faces house bright yellow eyes and a strong beak while their grey-brown.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |