The Great Horned Owl is important to our gardens because it is a great scavenger of mice and rats. The owls hearing is so acute that it can detect the location of a mouse under leaves, in total darkness, and the direction of its movement as well. Their fluffy plumage makes their flight nearly soundless.
Identification
Identified as 18-25 inches long. Very large, with widely spaced ear tufts, yellow eyes,
white throat and finely barred underparts. Wingspan 36-60 inches. The male and
female look alike except the female will be larger.
Voice
The call is a deeply resonant hooting. Usually five hoots: hoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo
(but can range from 3 to 6 hoots).
Range and Habitat
The Great Horned Owl is a year round inhabitant of North America.
Its preferred habitat is deep forests, open country, deserts, marshes and wilder city
parks. They are found everywhere shelter such as woods is available and cliffs are
close.
Since they are nocturnal creatures, during the day they will roost in the thick tops of
evergreen trees, close to a trunk. They prefer to nest in trees, caves or on the
ground.
Feeding Preferences
The Great Horned Owl is mainly a nocturnal hunter and enjoys mammals (up to the size of
porcupines), birds, reptiles and frogs. They rid our neighborhoods of rats, mice, gophers,
skunks and rabbits. You can tell if an owl is in your area not only by hearing its hooting
at night, but look for owl pellets under potential roosting areas. Owl pellets are the
regurgitated indigestible portions of their food such as bones, hair and feathers. These
items are compressed and regurgitated as compact pellets.