Wildlife Wednesday – The Great Horned Owl

We think you all will get a “hoot” out of our next Wildlife Wednesday spotlight from the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The great horned owl is the second most common Ohio owl, after the Eastern screech-owl. They occur across the length of North America, to the limit of trees where the tundra begins in the north, and south through Central America and into South America.
This is our largest resident owl, and great horned owls appear very powerful and thick-bodied. They are our only large owl with prominent ear tufts; the next largest tufted owl is the long-eared owl, which is five times lighter and about 1/3rd smaller overall.
Great horned owls produce classic hooting that even people with very little familiarity with owls should easily recognize as an owl. Typical territorial hooting, which is the most commonly heard vocalization, is a loud, uniform series, typically of five or six hoots, but sometimes only four: Whooo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo with the first three hoots somewhat more emphatic and the last few more drawn out. This call carries long distances and can be heard up to a ½ mile or more on a still night.

For more info about this bird as well as other owls in Ohio, download the Owls of Ohio Field Guide here – https://ohiodnr.gov/…/Owls%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Guide…. #WildOhio

Information courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources