Sprite
Sprite is a male Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) who came to
the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the winter of 2007. He has a
fractured right wing and cannot fly properly. We are unsure what
caused his injury, but nevertheless, he is non-releasable.
Great-horned Owls are named for the feathers on the top of their heads which
resemble horns at a distance. They have large bodies with brown and
black feathering. Their facial disks are not as round as in other owl
species and are a tan or buff color. They are identifiable by their
prominent white bib on the upper chest, and their large, yellow eyes.
Great-horned Owls are one of the largest and most powerful owls in North
America weighing up to 4 pounds. They can take prey up to 2 – 3 times
their own weight.
Over 250 different birds and animals have been identified as prey, including
porcupines, skunks, snakes, owls and other birds, rodents, and fish.
Great-horned Owls have very powerful feet and can exert 400 pounds of
pressure per square inch! That’s 4 times the strength of the adult
human jaw!
Great-horned Owls are the most widespread of our owls, occurring throughout
North America. They utilize a variety of habitats, and have adapted
well to living around humans. Males and females can be differentiated
by their calls during mating season; the males have a 3-note call while the
female's call contains 5 notes and is higher pitched.
