Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

With piercing yellow eyes and iconic "horns," this formidable nocturnal hunter rules the night skies across North and South America.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Great Horned Owl is a large, powerful bird with distinctive ear tufts, large yellow eyes, and a hooked beak. Its plumage is mottled brown and gray, with a white throat patch and horizontal barring on the underparts.

Sometimes known as the ‘tiger owl’ a great horned owl’s face features striped markings with brown, black, and buff streaks and a white bib.

Females are typically larger than males, but coloration is similar. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a more rufous tint and less defined markings.

Size

Length

46cm to 63cm

Wingspan

91cm to 153cm

Weight

910g to 2.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Great Horned Owl can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Great Horned Owl can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Great Horned Owl can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Great Horned Owl can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Great Horned Owl can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Great Horned Owl is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Great Horned Owls inhabit a wide range of environments across the Americas, from arctic tundra to tropical rainforests. They are particularly common in mixed woodlands, forests, and open country with scattered trees.

In North America, they are year-round residents throughout the continental United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in both rural and urban settings.

The states with the highest concentrations of great horned owls include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Oregon. These states have landscapes with dense forests and open woodlands, which are the preferred habitats of great horned owls.

In Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario all have a well-established year-round presence. Sikome Lake in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Alberta is known for its regular nesting owls.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great Horned Owl. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons