In order to see peripherally, the owl must turn its entire head. Owls' eyes look forward in a fixed position and cannot move from side to side, as the human eye can. They have binocular vision and a hooked beak so as not to interfere with their vision. Owls have 14 neck vertebrae, allowing them to move their head 270 degrees.Īlthough these birds have excellent eyesight, they are also capable of catching prey using only their sense of hearing. It is a myth that owls can turn their head all the way around. If discovered during the day by small birds, it is not uncommon for the smaller birds to mob and chase away the owl. Great horned owls have the most identifiable call, which sounds like: 'who-who-who-who!' It is rare for the prey to hear an owl swooping in. The leading edge is "fringed" so that the feathers, when moving, do not make noise when rubbing together. Most owls have unique, comb like feathers that allow for silent flight. Less than 3% of all bird species are active at night, half of those are owls. ![]() During the day they only cover about (2.6 km 2) (1 mi 2), so it is rare to spot them in daylight. ![]() ![]() Great horned owls may be active during the day or night, but are mostly nocturnal. Size Approximately 45 to 63 cm (18 to 25 in.) wingspan up to 1.5 m (5ft.) females are usually larger than males Weight Approximately 0.9 to 1.8 kg (2 to 4 lbs.) Diet Animal prey including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals rodents are an important food source can even take prey as large as skunks and grouse Incubation Approximately 32 days Clutch Size 2 to 3 eggs Sexual Maturity Approximately 2 years Life Span Ranging from 5 to 12 years, with occasional individuals living in excess of 20 years (particularly in zoological settings) Range Throughout North America, Central America, and South America this species has widest distribution of any owl Habitat Found wooded and open areas Population Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 6 million. It has a bright white patch at the throat, which expands during vocalization. Scientific Classification Common Name great hornbill, great Indian hornbill, great pied hornbill, large pied hornbill, concave-casqued hornbill Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Coraciiformes Family Bucerotidae Genus Species Buceros (big horn) bicornis (two horns)įast Facts Description The great horned owl is a large owl with ear tufts and barred feathers on the underside of its body.
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