One of the Most Fascinating and Deadliest Owls in North America | The Great horned Owl

Native to North America this widely distributed and common owl is a familiar sight for many. The Great Horned Owl may be seen making its home in cities, in a forest, or even in your backyard.

Timestamps and common questions:
00:00 What does a Great Horned Owl look like?
00:46 Male and female differences
01:03 Do Great-horned Owls migrate?
01:28 Where to find a Great-horned Owl
02:00 What does a Great-horned Owl like to eat?
03:04 What sounds does a Great-horned Owl make?
04:17 Great Horned Owl nesting habits
05:59 Great-horned Owl population and conservation
07:37 My thoughts on the Great-horned Owl
Where do Great-horned Owls live?

Photos and videos provided by the following

(A-Z)
Aaron Hedetniemi

(BBRR) Braddock Bay Raptor Research via MyDailyNature (Thumbnail)
MyDailyNature

Chris Rigobello

Dan Streiffert

FWoltman

I am X Wild

PacificNorthWestKate

Veteranhealing
Nest box photo
(no affiliation to sales)

Woodlands of Canada

Lucine Reinbold (no links)
Paul Bigelow (no links)
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Audio:
End music
Castleshire - Chris Haugen via YouTube Audio Library
Shortened for length

All Original audios below were shortened and some background noise removed

Intro

Duet

Bill Snapping

Begging call/sharp screams

Strange noise from female #1 and #2

Strange Honk noise #3

Photos and videos from free-use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photos/videos and /or found below (license at the end)

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#birds #birdwatching #owl #birdphotography

[RobinMarks]

One day, while out hunting, I went into a thicket and came eye to eye with a Great Horned Owl. Since, it was low in the trees, the owl was sitting only a foot or two above me and about ten feet away. I stopped on a dime and was shocked by its beauty and its giant eyes staring back into mine. I stood mesmerized for a long time because I didn't want to move and scare it away. Eventually, I noticed a fallen log and decided I'd sit down and try not to spook it. I stayed there for about half and hour. The owl soon got bored of me and was looking around and wasn't bothered by my presence. Finally, I said goodbye and wondered off. In that snow covered wood, with the owl's grey, white and black coat, and its giant green eyes, I felt like I was in a dream world, a surreal fantasy. Because it was so amazing, it didn't seem real.

[josephinegibbs]

The most impressive thing to me about the great horned is how absolutely silent they are in flight. It is stunning to be walking through the woods and suddenly have that great wingspan unfold and the bird drifts off further into the forest without the slightest sound.

[thecityman]

Thanks for this. I recently had a huge tree blow down that had a nest in it and 2 young Great Horned Owls. I used new gloves to prevent my smell from getting on them and I put them in another tree and hoped mom would still care for them. She actually sort of stayed in the area the rest of the day and so I had high hopes. But for the next 2 days she never returned and one of the young owls died. I contacted our wildlife resource people and of course they said I had to leave them alone even if it meant their death, or I could drive them to a rehab place 4.5 hours away. I know people reading this will say I shouldn't intervene but knowing it was a sure death sentence, I did. I''ve had the little guy for 17 days now (2.5 weeks) and he/she eats like crazy, takes lots of water, and is growing super fast. I have a vet who is helping advice me and has helped me a lot. This little guy was already aboyt 1/2 grown I'd guess. He already had feathers on wings and back but still down on head and chest. It's been an amazing experience. This video was helpful. And yes, I absolutely plan to release him as soon as he can fly. This isn't a situation where I'm trying to make a pet of a majestic wild animal that deserves to be free. I'm just trying to give him that chance at life.

[Lori-lpuc]

They're very vocal in the winter months. I love listening to them calling to each other at night.❤

[janwells]

About 4 years ago in the fall, I was on a ladder under my deck, clipping off grape vines. I was startled to see a young Great Horned about 3 feet from my shoulder calmly watching me! It was sitting on the beam. It stayed about a half hour then gracefully flew away. What a treasure to see it so close.

[robertbrigham]

I retired to rural San Diego County 4 years ago and immediately discovered I had a breeding pair of Great Horned Owls as neighbors. Their nest site has varied over time, and this past year they have decided to nest some distance away so that I only heard their territorial hooting rarely. But just this morning at dawn I heard them, and they came to the tree right above my house so I got to see them too! I love them and am grateful to have moved into such a wonderful neighborhood.

[elliottcoleman]

Have a pair that nests in a cemetery in my city. I found them through two women who told me their nests had been failing due to the bottoms falling out. They asked the cemetery for permission to build platforms for the nests but they refused, so they both snuck in at night and installed them anyway hahaha. The owl pair have had some beautiful children. I also recently got sung to sleep one night by a pair duet while on a 9 day hitch on Mt. Lemmon. They're really one of my favorite birds.

[andrewgraves]

Their silent flight has always fascinated me.

[raymondjones]

I hear one outside my window most nights...if I'm not mistaken, there's more than one..carrying on a hooting conversation..when they start...I'm all ears!!👍👍😉😎...thanks as always Lesley I've never heard some of those calls!! Thank you!!😉😎😁

[dannfish]

I did not know great horned owls made that snapping sound with their beaks. Leslie your channel is the best. Thanks for posing!

[repetemyname]

Love it, owls are my favorite raptor, such a unique bird in so many ways.

[donp]

Love to hear the owls... Majestic birds. Great photo of hummingbird with owl.

[probegt]

Years ago sitting in a treestand one landed about 10 feet away in the same tree as me and started hooting...he never knew I was there. It was one of the most majestic experiences ever and I'll never forget it

[littleskipper]

I loved the hummingbird checking out the owl 😍🦉

[cathywhite]

That was a great shot with the humming bird & owl. Everyone keep care of your cats & small dogs. Thanks agian Leslie, great vid.

[alicemcpherson]

I am addicted to your videos. I cannot begin to explain how much I enjoy them all. Your information on each bird species is what I have longed for since I began bird feeding and watching. The nuances of behavior and vocalizations are simply fascinating . Thank you for sharing all your information and hard work. ❤

[Pacificnorthwestkate]

Wonderful video Lesley - thank you for including some of my video clips!! 🥰👍❤️

[rherman]

I have a pair that live here on my property. It seems the male comes & visits me almost daily. I have food sources out (feeding stations and I think this is what attracts them. About 0200 - 0400 in the mornings, I will have four great horned owls gather in my shop/yard area. They do carry on. However, they are always welcome here & will be protected from human predators. MY cat says she doesn't like

[jerryfritz]

They have fringes on their flight feathers that makes flying almost completely silent. We had people from the U of M raptor center demonstrate this comparing a red tailed hawk and and owl by holding them up and having them flap their wings. It was amazing and a little eerie too!

[protitikhan]

We spotted some horned owls (don't know if they're the same as great horned owls) in a suburban park in southern Manitoba (Winnipeg) this year. It was a father and his two fledglings which were huge and fluffy and oooh so beautiful. The father was being harassed by a murder of crows. My buddy heard the commotion and knew what it was right away and ran through the brambles to shoo away the crows. Then we had 40 minutes of pure bird watching glory, watching these 3 magnificent dinosaurs attempt to fly and faulter while the father closely monitored them and us. He was grateful we sent the crows away. They dive bombed him at times. It was the most magical nature moment I had since the red breasted nut hatch let me pet him. Thanks Lesley for igniting my bird luck! I watch all the time and I think it's helping!