Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.

Great Horned Owls are covered in extremely soft feathers that insulate them against the cold winter weather and help them fly very quietly in pursuit of prey. Their short, wide wings allow them to maneuver among the trees of the forest.

Great Horned Owls have large eyes, pupils that open widely in the dark, and retinas containing many rod cells for excellent night vision. Their eyes don’t move in their sockets, but they can swivel their heads more than 180 degrees to look in any direction. They also have sensitive hearing, thanks in part to facial disc feathers that direct sound waves to their ears.

Even though the female Great Horned Owl is larger than her mate, the male has a larger voice box and a deeper voice. Pairs often call together, with audible differences in pitch.

Great horned owl in the forest of Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge in California. (Group of 3 photos)

At the Petroglyph Point section of the Lava Beds National Monument a former island we saw ancient carvings.
In the walls high above flew Prairie Falcons. In the large monolith there were cracks where we found a female Great Horned Owl.
All Photos Copyright Francesca Scalpi