The Great Horned Owl

Saturday February 2, 2008 12:17 PM

The cold, clear and crisp nights of early February on Cape Cod provide for some amazing star gazing, and for those who venture out, it is also a time when the hooting of the great horned owl can be heard at its best. This is the time of year when these owls are in the midst of their courtship. In fact, these owls are among the earliest of nesters and by the end of the month nests will likely be built, and eggs will be laid.

The great horned owl is found throughout North America. It is our largest owl having tufted ears, and stands about 18 to 25 inches tall with a wing span up to 55 inches in length. While coloration can vary somewhat, the owl is recognized by heavy barring of the feathers beneath and it has a conspicuous white throat bib. They appear to have no neck, and the feathers of its large facial disc may be orange in color with white feathers that form a V between its yellow eyes with large black pupils.

Contrary to popular belief, great horned owls cannot rotate their head completely around, but can rotate their head about 270°. This head movement compensates for there fixed eyes which cannot move up and down or side to side, yet their eyesight is very keen and they can see in almost dark conditions.

Great Horned Owls also have incredible hearing, which enables them to hear sounds 10 times fainter than the human ear can detect. This allows them to find prey by sound in the dark. Their hearing ability is the result of asymmetrical ear placement, with one ear opening often set higher on the head. This means that sounds enter the ears at different times and different angles. This allows the owl to use triangulation to pin point the direction and distance of prey by tilting its head back and forth and up down until the sound is equal in each ear. The sound is also enhanced by the dish shaped face and auriculars or small feathers which help funnel the sound into the ear. Add to its keen sight and acute hearing a silent flying speed of up to 40 mph, and this owl is an awesome predator. They are voracious feeders and will eat a wide range of prey including insects, snakes, squirrels, skunks, domestic cats, fox, and other birds including hawks. They are one of the few predators of the skunk, and sometimes they and their nest sites will reek of the skunk musk.

As noted, these owls lay their eggs in late February. There are usually 2 to 3 eggs, which will be incubated by both the male and the female for about 30 to 35 days. The chicks are closely guarded and fed by both parents as well. They will fledge from the nest in about 50 days.

Great horned owls are found in almost all larger wooded areas of the Cape. These are wary and secretive birds for the most part, and are nocturnal most of the time. They can sometimes be found during the day by simply following the noise of crows who love to harass the owls as they try to perch quietly. CapeCodweather.net family members have seen these owls at Wiley Park in Eastham, Nickerson State Park in Brewster, and the Doane Rock, Nauset Woods’ area of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

So this February, step outside after dark and listen for the hoots of the great horned owl in your area, the sound is a mainstay of the Cape Cod winter night experience.

---