bird cams: great horned owl

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great horned owl

A powerful and adaptable bird of prey, the Great Horned Owl has the most extensive range, the widest prey base and the most variable nesting sites of any American owl.

Its large yellow eyes, pronounced ear tufts, and white bib distinguish the Great Horned Owl from related species, especially once its unmistakable multi-tone hoot is heard.

Silently gliding from perch to perch, the Great Horned Owl hunts easily after dark. While perched and ready to pounce, the Great Horned Owl is robustly equipped with excellent eyesight, the ability to swivel its head more than 180 degrees, and an acute sense of hearing to locate its prey.

Regularly consuming small mammals, Great Horned Owls are also known to eat fish and even large prey such as other owls or raptorial birds.

  • topic: owls

  • location: charlo

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bird cams: great horned owl

A powerful and adaptable bird of prey, the Great Horned Owl has the most extensive range, the widest prey base and the most variable nesting sites of any American owl. Its large yellow eyes, pronounced ear tufts, and white bib distinguish the Great Horned Owl from related species, especially once its unmistakable multi-tone hoot is heard.

Silently gliding from perch to perch, the Great Horned Owl hunts easily after dark. While perched and ready to pounce, the Great Horned Owl is robustly equipped with excellent eyesight, the ability to swivel its head more than 180 degrees, and an acute sense of hearing to locate its prey.

Regularly consuming small mammals, Great Horned Owls are also known to eat fish and even large prey such as other owls or raptorial birds.

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location: Charlo, Montana

best viewing hours: 24/7

time zone: Mountain Time

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Our Great Horned Owl female began nest duties in the night between March 1-2.

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This year our chicks probably hatched towards the end of the first week of April.

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Only the female Great Horned Owls incubate eggs and broods chicks in the nest while the males provide food and protection.

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Great Horned Owls usually lay 1-4 eggs can be laid, but 2-3 most common here in our area.

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Great Horned Owls asynchronously lay 1-4 perfectly spherical white eggs in a clutch. The eggs hatch about 2 days apart.

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Great Horned Owl hatchlings are covered with pure white down which is replaced in the first three weeks by long, soft, grayish buff down, mottled dusky on back.

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Great Horned Owl chicks will be nest bound for the first several weeks.

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At 7 weeks owlets are capable of short flights though fledglings remain with parents for most of the summer.

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Young Great Horned Owls will move onto nearby branches at 6 weeks of age.

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The Great Horned Owl is named for its large, conspicuous ear tufts.

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The Great Horned Owl is the only animal that regularly eats skunks.

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The Great Horned Owl will even hunt raptors including other owls and nestling Ospreys.

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In order to defend their nestlings, crows will travel long distances congregate and mob Great Horned Owls, driving them out of their territory.

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Females Great Horned Owls are larger than males.

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Males often have a deeper voice. Pairs will often call together, with audible differences in pitch.

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Adapted by its anatomy, physiology, and behavior the Great Horned Owl has the most extensive range, the widest prey base, and the most variable nesting sites of any American owl.

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The Great Horned Owl call is often featured in movies, offering the quintessential “Hooo-hoo-hoo-hooo.”

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Although its eyes are fixed, flexibility in the atlanto-occipital joint enables the Great Horned Owl to swivel its head more than 180° to look in any direction.

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Specialized facial disc–feathers direct sound waves to its ears to enhance the Great Horned Owls' acute hearing.

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Great Horned Owl feathers are exceptionally soft, providing superb insulation and allowing for silent flight.

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Female Great Horned Owls are able to maintain their eggs at incubating temperature near 37°C even when the ambient temperature is more than 70° colder.

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Great Horned Owls are perch-and-pounce hunters. Although its short, wide wings allow maneuverability among trees, the high wing-load makes aerial foraging less efficient.

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It takes a force of more than 28lbs to open a Great Horned Owl talons.

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Great Horned Owls are large, heavily barred bird with prominent ear tufts, white throat, gray beak, and bright yellow eyes, and a mottled grayish-brown back with rusty chest.

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Male owls stand about 20 inches tall while females average 23.5 inches.

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Male Great Horned Owls weigh an average of 2.9 lbs, while females average 3.3 lbs.

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Great Horned Owls are found year-round in all parts of U.S. and Canada except far northern coastal areas.

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Great Horned Owls can be found in a wide variety of habitats across the U.S. and Canada including coniferous, deciduous, and swamp forests, mangroves, farmland, deserts, and even city parks.

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Great Horned Owls feed mostly on small mammals such as hares, ground squirrels, and voles, though they also prey on birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects.

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After a Great Horned Owl swallows its prey, the undigested bones, feathers, fur and hair are compressed into a pellet which is then egested.

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Great Horned Owls are solitary except during nesting season.

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Female tears food into small pieces to feed her chicks while the male brings all food to nest until female is finished brooding.
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A powerful and adaptable bird of prey, the Great Horned Owl has the most extensive range, the widest prey base and the most variable nesting sites of any American owl.

Its large yellow eyes, pronounced ear tufts, and white bib distinguish the Great Horned Owl from related species, especially once its unmistakable multi-tone hoot is heard.

Silently gliding from perch to perch, the Great Horned Owl hunts easily after dark. While perched and ready to pounce, the Great Horned Owl is robustly equipped with excellent eyesight, the ability to swivel its head more than 180 degrees, and an acute sense of hearing to locate its prey.

Regularly consuming small mammals, Great Horned Owls are also known to eat fish and even large prey such as other owls or raptorial birds.

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