Birds @ Wings

American Crow
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Common Loon
Golden Eagle
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Lewis' Woodpecker
Osprey
Pine Grosbeak
Red-tailed Hawk
Rufous Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
Swans
Warbling Verio
Western Meadowlark
Wood Duck

Great Horned Owl

Recognition

The Great Horned Owl is readily identified by it's large size and prominent "horns". The horns are actually feather tufts, neither ears nor horns. Its neck and back are light brown with black and white streaks, speckles and bars. The underside is light in color and heavily barred, with a conspicuous white throat patch. Its infamous talons are about the size of a human hand.

Haunts

One of North Americas most widely spread owls can be found in both deciduous and coniferous woods. They build no nest of their own but take over abandoned hawk or crow nests.

Schedule

The Great Horned Owl is a year round resident. Courtship takes place in February through early April, when males can be heard serenading their prospective mates with a subdued yet vibrant "who-ho-o-o, whoo-o-oo, whoo".

Field Notes

These "winged tigers" don't give a hoot for good table manners, they do what children are warned not to do - swallow their food whole. They'll eat any animal that they can overcome: insects, frogs, mice, hares, skunks, ducks, geese, other owls and even fish. Great Horned Owl's vision is remarkable, being able to see in light levels one hundredth the minimum required for humans. Their hearing is even more astonishing, being able to hear a beetle walking through the grass at a distance of over 100 yards. Another unique feature is specialized flight feathers and soft plumage, which allows this large bird to fly or glide in absolute silence.