What is the great horned owl’s habitat?
Where in the United States do great horned owls live?
Where are great horned owls most common?
In which state is no great horned owl found?
How rare are great horned owls?
How big is the Great Horned Owl’s territory?
Where do great horned owls live in winter?
Where do great horned owls live during the day?
Where do great horned owls go at night?
Will the great horned owl stay in the same area?
Do great horned owls live in groups?
Great Horned Owl Distribution FAQs
Great horned owl (Virginia Inguinal Swollen Lymph Nodes) is one of the most common owl species. It is widely distributed in North America, including the continental United States, Alaska, and Canada. Their range also extends into Mexico and Central and South America.
As you can imagine, great horned owls adapt well to a myriad of habitats. They inhabit forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and even cities. Any semi-open habitat between the Arctic tundra and the tropical lowlands of South America is fair game for these birds.
Although common, great horned owls are also elusive. You’re much more likely to hear one than see one. Knowing when and where to look will improve your chances of spotting one of these birds in the wild. Read on to discover more about great horned owl habitats!
Great horned owls live in a wide range of habitats
What is the great horned owl’s habitat?
Great horned owls live in many different habitats in North and South America. Forests, clearings, and desert canyons are all places this owl might call home. In general, they prefer a mix of open spaces and secondary woodland. These habitats include temperate forests, wetlands, swamps, pastures and agricultural areas. They also have territories in cities and backyards.
Great Horned Owl is not common in dense primary forests. They prefer semi-open habitats for nesting and hunting – often nesting in trees or in tree hollows. Obstacles, cliffs, ledges, and abandoned buildings are also suitable nesting habitats.
Great horned owl perched on a branch
Where in the United States do great horned owls live?
Great horned owls are common in the continental United States and Alaska. They are widespread and occur in mountainous, forest and desert areas. These owls can be seen (or heard) almost anywhere. However, they are less densely populated in the Appalachian Mountains, the subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.
Where are great horned owls most common?
Great horned owls are most common in North America. They are widespread in numerous habitats in the region, including forests, deserts, wetlands, swamps, grasslands, and cities.
These owls are also common in South America, found around Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Patagonia.
Great horned owl gliding in the air during snowfall in winter
In which state is no great horned owl found?
Great horned owls don’t live in Hawaii. They are not native to the area and may need introductions from people to reach this remote area. However, they do occur in all continental US states and Alaska.
How rare are great horned owls?
The great horned owl is one of the most common owls in North America. They are found in almost every region. However, these owls can be elusive. Before you see a great horned owl, you’re more likely to hear its low-pitched call. Even so, pinpointing the bird’s exact location has been difficult.
The best time to see the great horned owl is at dusk, near semi-open areas where it might prey. These birds usually perch in a tree, and they make low-pitched whines before the hunt begins. Sometimes this singing lasts for more than an hour.
Close up side profile of a great horned owl
How big is the Great Horned Owl’s territory?
Great horned owls have relatively large territories, typically covering 25-5 square miles. Once a mate is found, these owls rarely leave their range.
Typically, the only time an adult great horned owl will leave its territory is during the winter when food is scarce. Young birds, on the other hand, leave their parents in the fall and fly more than 150 miles to establish their own territory.
Where do great horned owls live in winter?
Great horned owls usually stay in their territory year-round. As long as there is enough food available, they are well equipped to handle the long, cold winters of the northern United States and Canada.
In these regions, snow hares are the owl’s main food source throughout the cold season. When snowshoe hares are scarce, great horned owls leave their territory.
Great horned owl landed on the snow
Where do great horned owls live during the day?
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal – they typically hunt at dusk, dawn and throughout the night. During the day, these owls roost in quiet, relatively dark places, including tree cavities, cliff faces and abandoned buildings.
Where do great horned owls go at night?
Great Horned Owl usually hunts at night. They will find a sheltered perch on a tree branch, cliff edge, tall utility pole, or fence post, where they can watch and listen for their prey.
Occasionally, owls will hunt during the day. Daytime hunting usually occurs in winter when food sources are less active in the cold nights.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as Tiger Owl.It is a very adaptable bird with a wide range and is the most widespread true owl in the Americas
Will the great horned owl stay in the same area?
Great horned owls do not migrate regularly. Usually, they are permanent residents in their territory. Occasionally, owls in colder regions fly farther south in the fall and winter when food sources are more difficult to obtain.
Do great horned owls live in groups?
The great horned owl is a solitary animal. They only stay with a mate during the breeding season and rarely, if ever, appear in groups.
A great horned owl perched on a tree stump
Great Horned Owl Distribution FAQs
Do great horned owls live in the desert?
The great horned owl does live in the desert. They are common throughout the desert southwest and most of Mexico.
Where do great horned owls live in Canada?
The great horned owl is widely distributed throughout Canada. They are common anywhere there is open woodland or near agricultural areas. These owls are not usually active above the boreal forests of northern Canada.
Where does the Great Horned Owl live in Michigan?
Great horned owls can be found almost anywhere in Michigan. They prefer open secondary forests near croplands and pastures.
Great horned owl perched on a tall tree
Do great horned owls live in Florida?
Great horned owls do live in Florida. They are found in many habitats, including open woodlands, marshes, and wetlands.
Are there great horned owls in Texas?
The great horned owl does live in Texas. It is common in all habitats across the state, from wooded areas to deserts and grasslands.
Do great horned owls live in Arizona?
Much of Arizona has great horned owl populations. The Sonoran Desert has a lower population density.
Do great horned owls live in California?
The great horned owl is common throughout California, in northern open forests, and in southern desert and prairie habitats. The population density within the Mojave Desert is low.
Do great horned owls live in Minnesota?
The great horned owl does live in Minnesota. They are most common near open woodlands and agricultural areas.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
