Birds Active at night

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The ultimate nocturnal apex predator, the Great Horned Owl is famous for its iconic 'hoo-h'hoo-hoo-hoo' call and striking yellow eyes. This adaptable hunter is likely the most powerful bird of prey in your neighborhood.

1 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 43–64 cm (17–25 in); Wingspan: 91–153 cm (36–60 in); Weight: 0.6–2.5 kg (1.4–5.5 lbs)

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Colors

Mottled grayish-brown with reddish-brown tones; white throat patch; horizontal barring on the underparts; yellow eyes.

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Key Features

Prominent 'ear' tufts or plumicorns
Large, bright yellow eyes
White patch on the throat (the 'bib')
Broad, rounded wings and a short tail

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 7 PM - 5 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A versatile apex predator eating rodents, rabbits, hares, and skunks; they also hunt other birds (including smaller owls), reptiles, and occasionally fish.

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Habitat Highly adaptable; found in deciduous and coniferous forests, suburban parks, deserts, and agricultural edges.

Sightings on EverydayEarth

Osprey Nest - Charlo Montana

Mar 31, 2026

A Great Horned Owl is perched prominently on a wooden post in the foreground. It remains still for a moment before turning its head to scan the grassy valley and the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Great Horned Owl Live?

The Great Horned Owl is native across the North American continent, stretching from the northern tree line in Alaska and Canada down through the entire United States and Mexico. Its range continues through Central America and across much of South America, making it one of the most widely distributed raptors in the Western Hemisphere. While they are found in nearly every climate zone, they are most common in areas where open hunting grounds meet dense stands of trees for nesting.

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7 Countries

25.0M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada MX Mexico BR Brazil AR Argentina CO Colombia PE Peru

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Great Horned Owl is a fierce and powerful predator, often nicknamed the 'Tiger of the Air' for its ability to take down prey significantly larger than itself. They are primarily nocturnal, beginning their activity at dusk, though they may occasionally hunt during the day in winter. These owls are highly territorial and tend to stay in the same home range year-round, using their deep, rhythmic hooting to advertise their presence to rivals and mates.

While they are solitary for most of the year, they form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Interestingly, they do not build their own nests, instead hijacking the abandoned stick nests of hawks, crows, or squirrels, or nesting in tree hollows and cliff ledges. In suburban environments, they are remarkably tolerant of human activity, often perching on rooftops or telephone poles to scan for backyard rodents.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture a Great Horned Owl on your backyard camera, focus on high-vantage points rather than ground-level activity. These owls love to perch on 'lookout' spots such as fence posts, the peaks of sheds, or sturdy horizontal branches at the edge of a clearing. Mounting your camera 6 to 10 feet high and angling it slightly downward toward a known perch is the most effective strategy. If you have a bird bath, you might even catch them taking a rare nocturnal dip or a drink.

Because Great Horned Owls are active in near-total darkness, high-quality infrared (IR) night vision is essential. Look for a camera with a fast trigger speed (0.3 seconds or less) because their flight is nearly silent and very swift; a slow camera will only catch a blur of feathers or a trailing wing. Since they are attracted to the sound and movement of small mammals, placing your camera near areas where you already see rabbits or mice—such as brush piles or under bird feeders—will naturally increase your chances of a sighting.

During the late fall and winter (November through February), Great Horned Owls become much more vocal and active as they establish territories and court mates. This is the prime time to set your camera to video mode. Use 'all-motion' sensitivity settings at night, as AI-models trained for humans or pets might sometimes overlook the silhouette of a perched bird. If your camera has an adjustable PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor, set it to high sensitivity during the winter months to ensure you don't miss these 'ghosts of the woods' as they glide past.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Great Horned Owl.

Long-eared Owl

Much smaller and slimmer with ear tufts set closer together near the center of the head.

Barred Owl

Lacks 'ear' tufts entirely and has dark brown eyes instead of yellow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Great Horned Owls are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. Their peak hunting hours usually begin shortly after sunset and continue until just before sunrise. You are most likely to hear them hooting or see them on camera between 8 PM and 4 AM.

The best way to attract these owls is to provide habitat for their prey. Maintaining brush piles for rabbits or leaving tall grasses can attract the rodents they hunt. Additionally, installing a large nesting platform high in a mature tree or providing a consistent water source like a large bird bath can encourage them to visit.

They are generalist carnivores with a incredibly varied diet. This includes small mammals like mice, voles, and rats, as well as larger prey like rabbits and even skunks—they are one of the few animals that regularly hunt them. They also eat other birds, including crows and smaller owl species.

Yes, they are very common in suburbs! Because they are so adaptable, they thrive in residential areas that have a mix of open lawns (for hunting) and mature trees (for nesting and cover). You may not see them often due to their camouflage, but they are likely closer than you think.

Size is the best indicator; Great Horned Owls are much larger and bulkier. While both have 'ear' tufts, the tufts on a Long-eared Owl are closer together and more vertical. Additionally, Great Horned Owls have a distinct white throat patch and horizontal barring on their belly, whereas Long-eared Owls have more vertical streaks.

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