Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

What They Look Like

This very large owl has widely spaced feather tufts on its head, yellow eyes and a white throat and stands 22 inches tall.

  

Where They Live

The Great Horned Owl is considered common in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.  They live in deciduous and coniferous woodlots and nest in old hawk, heron, or squirrel nests.  They are also the earliest nesting raptor in Michigan.  They begin laying eggs in January and February.                                                                  

What They Eat

Squirrels, mice, rabbits, snakes, skunks, weasels, porcupines, cats, crows, Ospreys, hawks, and other owls are on the Great Horned Owl’s menu.  They are ambush predators, waiting for their prey to come within range and then striking.  They are one of the only predators of skunks because they have such a poor sense of smell.

Things to Know

The call of this owl is one of the few that sounds like the stereotypical “who!” that is widely accepted to be the owl call.  Also, because the Great Horned Owl preys on other owls and raptors they have a huge impact on these other species populations.  They are a top predator meaning that they have no natural predators in the wild.

  

Why We Have One

We got our Great Horned Owl in September of 1985.  She had a broken left wing which is healed now, but it suffered permanent damage making her unable to fly.