GREAT HORNED OWLS

One Of The Biggest Birds

By: Thomas.O

Introduction

The scientific name for the Great Horned owl is Bubo Virginianus(It means Great Horned Owl lives in Virginia.)The owls live 5-12 years in the wildThey can live to 38 years in captivity.The Great Horned Owl is not endangered.There are 150 kinds of owls.

Physical FeaturesBrown feathersThey are about 45-63 cm tallThey have about a 5 foot wing span.They weigh about 2-4 poundsWhite patch at throatBrown small legsStrong yellow talons which are their claws

More Physical Features

Round faceBig yellow eyes with big black pupilsHard, small beak that is very pointy at the endEar tufts-which are the horns

HabitatThey live in wooded areas.They mostly live in North and South America.They also live in farmland.They live in coniferous and deciduous forests Landforms are farmland and suburbs in North and South AmericaThey are most often found in treed areas.

Habitat Continued

Climate, 40-68 degrees during most of the year12-35 inches of rain a year fall in their habitatThey live in all kinds of climates including cold and warm weather.Winter can last from October-May.The summers are hot and humid.

Food

They are carnivores which are meat eaters. They eat rodents, like mice, rabbits, skunks, bats and crows.When they hunt they strike from above.They kill their prey with their strong talons (claws).

Hunting

PREY PREDATORMice—they can eat 4,000 mice a yearRabbitsSquirrelsBatsCrowsSkunks

Great horned owls actually eat other Great Horned OwlsHumans harm owls with pollution and catching them for zoos.

Behavior

They like to hunt at night.They have great night vision.Owls can see far away so they can chase down their preyKeen hearing so they can hear predators.Both parents feed and take care of owlets for a few weeks.

BabiesThey lay 1-5 eggs a year.Babies are called owlets.The owlets stay with their mom and dad for the first few weeks.The owlets will hatch in a few weeks.They start off only 3 to 4 inches in size

Physical Adaptation

The owls in the snowy areas are white and the owls in wooded areas are brown and tan which looks like bark of a tree so it can camouflage with the bark and snow. This helps them blend with their surroundings at rest .Powerful talons are used to grab prey.Powerful beak/bill are used rip apart the prey so it is easier to eat. Owls with yellow colored eyes (iris) are generally daytime huntersOwls with orange colored irises are generally dusk and dawn hunters Owls with dark colored irises are usually nighttime hunters

Behavioral Adaptation

They stay in a tree and watch their prey and then sweep down to get it.They hoot to warn each other of danger.Very quiet when they fly so they will not tell prey they are coming.They usually do not make their nests but use nests from other birds which makes it easy to move from one place to another.They are nocturnal so they can hunt at night.

Physiological Adaptation

Keen eye sight to see prey from far away.Keen hearing to hear their prey and other owls.They can turn their heads 270 degrees because they have 14 vertebrae so they can spot their prey and see predators.They have no marrow (bones are hollow) in their bones which help them fly.

Fun Facts

Female and male owls both hatch eggs.There are more than 150 kinds of owls.It has the biggest eyes of North Americas owls.The male owl is smaller then the female owl.