For many folks, owls are spooky and mysterious creatures. But the truth is that they are some of the most fascinating of the nocturnal creatures in our world. All owls are cool, but the coolest may be Great Horned Owls.
Bubo virginianus is the largest owl in the eastern U.S., standing upwards of 24 inches with a wingspan of 3-4 feet. It is also the most widely distributed owl in North America, ranging coast to coast and to the tree line in northern Canada. As with most owls, it is often heard rather than seen – its signature call, a deep, muffled hoo-hoo-hoo, hoooo-hoo, not to be confused with the “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you alllllll” call of Barred Owls (Strix varia) that also live here.
Apart from the mournful call, Great Horned Owls are cool in a number of ways. For one, they nest in winter when they can be seen in daylight hours as they tend their perpetually hungry young. These owls use stick nest in trees and other high structures that were made by other birds, like Osprey and hawks. A pair nested on a pole platform at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center for many years. A pair is currently nesting in a nearby pine, visible from the center.
What looks like ears or horns on their heads are called plumicorns – tufts of feathers that have several possible functions, not yet clearly understood. One theory is that their horns break up their silhouette shape as they roost during the day, making them look like a dead branch. Plumicorns may also serve as visual cues, for social interactions or territorial intent, as in, this is my turf! Their actual ears are situated forward within their facial disc that amplifies sounds that they use to locate prey.
This large predator has a broad diet that allows it to inhabit a diverse range of habitats and regions. Great Horned Owls eat small mammals as large as rabbits and are one of the main predators of skunks – undeterred by the odor because of their poor sense of smell. They can also feed on rats, bats, birds, amphibians and small invertebrates. They use their great sense of hearing to detect even the slightest sounds of their prey, capable of swiveling their heads as much as 180 degrees to aim their facial disc – part of what makes them seem spooky.
But watching these majestic owls tending to their young, and when necessary, defending their territory can be dramatic. American Bald Eagles also nest in winter here on the Gulf coast and if their territories overlap with owls, trouble is likely. I observed multiple aerial disputes between Great Horned Owls and Bald Eagles that were nesting a quarter mile apart. Both were fierce defenders of their turf, that apparently led to the loss of chicks from both nests. At times Osprey also harass owls that may be using the nest they built.
But one practice of nesting owls did make me chuckle. Because their chicks are always hungry and insistent for attention, as with any child, adults sometimes take a break from the nest. As the owlets in the Audubon nest reached a decent size, I often spotted the attending parent resting in a nearby tree, away from the children, looking disheveled and thankful for a break. All parents can relate. Their goofy-looking children looked pitiful.
Winter is a great time to spot the largest of our eastern owls during the day. Owlets should fledge by mid-March.
Hope to see you in our great outdoors!
Photos courtesy of Curtis Makamson.