Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Their grip strength is estimated at 300 psi, which is comparable to the bite force of a large guard dog.
- Scientific name
- Bubo virginianus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Strigiformes › Strigidae › Bubo
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Extremely adaptable, found in deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert scrub, and urban parks.
- Diet
- Generalist carnivore; consumes rodents, hares, ducks, and even skunks or other birds of prey.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- Wingspan of 3 to 5 feet; weight of 2 to 5 pounds.
- Lifespan
- 13-15 years in the wild
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Secondary poisoning from rodenticides, habitat fragmentation, and vehicle collisions.
- Safe to approach?
- Generally harmless and elusive, but can be highly defensive near nest sites. Maintain a distance of at least 30 feet. If the owl clicks its beak or hisses, you are too close; back away slowly. If scratched by talons, wash the area thoroughly and seek medical attention to prevent infection.
The great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus ), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air") or the hoot owl , is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice and voles, although it freely hunts...
Photo: Ben Hayden, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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