If there was ever a magical creature, one that holds mystery and intrigue, it would have to be the Great Horned Owl. If you are ever walking through the woods late in the evening, chances are you may of heard their call, one that brings images of a scary movie and can be quite spooky to listen to.
Great Horned Owls are far from spooky, but a beautiful bird that weighs between three to four pounds that commands attention, and with their longing stares, they are one of the most intelligent birds around. If you have ever had the opportunity to spend some time with a Great Horned Owl, you will quickly see just how cool these birds really are.
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Watch A Movie Clip Of A Great Horned Owl
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Finding the Great Horned Owl is without a doubt one of our biggest challenges, for they blend into their environment so well, many times we have walked right by them and never even saw them. Their feathers and patterns are a perfect match for the types of trees they love to sleep in, which here in Florida is the Slash Pines, and the bark of these trees look identical to the Owl. Since Great Horned Owls are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night, the Great Horned Owls will pin themselves against the trunk of the pines, making it downright impossible at times to even see them.
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View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Sleeping
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl In A Slash Pine
View Photo Of A Female Great Horned Owl
View Photo Of A Male Great Horned Owl
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Calling To It's Mate
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The Great Horned Owls are the largest of twenty of species of the genus, Bubo, for they can be found in length of around twenty-three inches tall, and their wingspan can be from forty-four to fifty-five inches. They have prominent ear tufts that resemble ears. These are not ears at all and are made of just feathers. Their ears are located on the side of their heads concealed under feathers. Plumage colors are mostly earth shades which help conceal them during the daytime as they roost and sleep. They have a short tail and their legs are fully feathered. Great Horned Owls have soft feathers that have fine serration's, so that when they are in flight, the wind that passes over their feathers is muffled. This noiseless flight means that the owls can approach their prey in total silence. Their feathers also act as effective layers of insulation to keep them warm.
Great Horned Owls have large yellow eyes but lack the muscles to move them in the eye sockets. However, their huge eyes are positioned in such a way that it gives them better binocular vision. In order to see from side to side the owl needs to turn its head, and they have the ability to rotate their head 180-degrees.
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View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Rotating It's Head
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl High Up In A Tree
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Preening It's Feathers
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Looking For Prey
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl With Kill
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Great Horned Owls are nocturnal hunters mostly hunting during the night. However, if they are hungry or have young owlets, they will hunt during the day as well. We have witnessed them hunting a few hours before sunset feasting on such items as black racer snakes, frogs, small mice and an unfortunate Egret. Their diet consists of a wide variety of small and medium-sized mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish.
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Listen To The Sounds Of A Great Horned Owl
(MP3 Format - :12 - 192KB)
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While we were photographing a Great Horned Owl once, he was sitting in a pine tree hooting to the female who was positioned further up the trails on Honeymoon Island. It seemed like they were letting each other know where the other one was at. It was difficult to find the male Great Horned Owl as he sat way up in the pine tree because the coloring in their feathers gives them the amazing ability to blend into their surroundings. We have also seen them preening their feathers in the middle of the afternoon as well, and Great Horned Owls take the practice of keeping their feather in top-notch shape as serious business.
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View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Looking For Prey
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl In Late Evening
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Resting In Spanish Moss
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl In Evening Light
View Photo Of A Great Horned Owl Profile Close-Up
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Finding and photographing the Great Horned Owl in nature is without a doubt one of the most rewarding and interesting of the numerous species of birds here in Florida, for they are our biggest challenge to locate. But when we do find them, it is truly a special moment.
Article Written By Dawn La Follette