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. It is also likely that
Sprite suffered some neurological damage, as his behavior does not resemble
a normal great horned owl. However, the extent of this damage is almost
impossible to test.
Great horned owls are named for the feathers on the top of their heads which
resemble horns at a distance. These feathers are thought to be used for
communication and camouflage purposes. They have large bodies with brown and
black feathering. They are identifiable by their prominent white bib on the
upper chest, and their large, yellow eyes. Their facial disks are not as
round as in other owl species and are a tan or buff color. This is because
they do not rely as much on sound, as on their excellent vision. 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 to these
owls, including 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! We often say that a great horned owl can snap a broom stick with its
feet as easily as a person can snap a crayon with their hands. This power
combined with the aggressive nature of the great horned owl allows them to
hunt almost anything. They can even hunt porcupines by grabbing them by the
head and flipping them on their back. They also have a very limited sense of
smell, making skunks a defenseless meal. However, the majority of their diet
will consist of common, “easy” prey such as rabbits. They are mostly seen
hunting at night, but may also be active around dawn and dusk.
From owlpages.com: “Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents,
squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, shrews, moles,
muskrats, and bats. They may sometimes take small domestic dogs and cats.
Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers,
crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron,
ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and
young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other
foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms,
spiders, and road killed animals.”
Great horned owls are well known for being the main predator for many other
raptor species. Other owls, red-tailed hawks, osprey, and peregrine falcons
have been especially preyed upon by the great horned owl. They also commonly
prey on crow nestlings, and are thus often mobbed by large groups of adult
American crows.
Great horned owls are one of the most widespread of our owls, occurring
throughout North America and in parts of South America. They utilize a
variety of habitats, and have adapted well to living around humans. They
seem to prefer open woodlands and agricultural land, but can be found in
urban, suburban, desert, and boreal areas. They can survive in cold climates
due to their thick layer of feathers and the feathering all the way down
their toes. They will not build their own nest, but will use an old one from
other raptors or large birds, or even steal one that is already being used.
Males and females can be differentiated by their calls during mating season;
the males have a 3-5 note call while the female's call contains 5-7 notes
and is higher pitched. Great horned owls usually mate in early February
(Valentine’s Day anyone?) and are very aggressive protectors of their nests
and nestlings.
Wild great horned owls live up to 13 years, but in captivity have lived well
over 30 years. Juveniles closely resemble adults, so it is difficult to tell
their age unless they are still covered in down feathers.
