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The
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a very large owl.
Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish face, a white patch
on the throat and yellow eyes. The underparts are light
with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown.
The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons.
There are regional variations in colour; birds farther
north are paler. Their breeding habitat is wooded or heavily
shrubbed areas across North America and parts of South
America. They often take over a nest used by some other
large bird, sometimes adding feathers to line the nest
but usually not much more. They are permanent residents,
but may wander after the nesting season. These birds wait
on a high perch at night and swoop down on prey. They
mainly eat mammals, such as rats, mice, rabbits and skunks,
and birds, as well as smaller owls. In northern regions,
they may let uneaten food freeze and then thaw it out
later using their own body heat. |
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|
The
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a very large owl.
Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish face, a white patch
on the throat and yellow eyes. The underparts are light
with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown.
The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons.
There are regional variations in colour; birds farther
north are paler. Their breeding habitat is wooded or heavily
shrubbed areas across North America and parts of South
America. They often take over a nest used by some other
large bird, sometimes adding feathers to line the nest
but usually not much more. They are permanent residents,
but may wander after the nesting season. These birds wait
on a high perch at night and swoop down on prey. They
mainly eat mammals, such as rats, mice, rabbits and skunks,
and birds, as well as smaller owls. In northern regions,
they may let uneaten food freeze and then thaw it out
later using their own body heat. |
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