Birds of Texas

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

© San Antonio, Texas - Summer 2006

Field Marks: This Owl is known as the "cat owl", because it is the only large owl that has ear-tufts.  These tufts appear to be "horns". The Great Horned Owl is heavily barred beneath; has a conspicuous white throat-collar.
Voice: Hooting is deep, and is more resonant than a Barred Owl.  3, 5 or 6 uninflected hoots.  It sounds similar to hoo, hoohoo, hoo, hoo.
Where found: Limit of trees in Arctic to the Strait of Magellan.

Texas: Resident throughout.

Habitat: Woodlands, canyons, streamsides, and deserts.

Nest: In an old tree nest of a bird of prey, hollow tree, pothole, cliff or river bluff.  These were at Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

There were three of them.  One stayed by himself and did not associate with these two.