It is sighted across most of North America and much of South America. It is aggressive and vigorous when hunting, earning the nickname “tiger owl.” It catches a wide variety of prey, including rabbits, hawks, snakes, skunks, and porcupines. Great horned owls begin nesting very early in the north, and their deep hoots can be heard echoing through the forest on midwinter nights.
Order: Strigiformes | Family: Strigidae
Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
Common name: Búho Cornudo
Best season for orinoco goose: all the year
Conservation status: Least concern (LC)
The American Owl is gray or brown in color. The upper parts are darkly mottled, while the underparts are finely barred. Its irises are amber, and the facial discs are bordered in black. It has long and striking ear tufts. This is the largest owl found in the Andes.
Habitat
Forests, groves, stream banks, and open fields. It is found near the tree line in almost all habitats of North America, from swamps to deserts and northern coniferous forests. During the breeding season, it avoids tundra or grasslands without clearings, as it requires the cover of some trees or dense vegetation.
Mating
During courtship, the male performs a display flight and also feeds the female. Nest: It usually recycles the old nest of another large bird, such as a hawk, eagle, crow, or heron. Generally, the nest is built at a height between 6 and 18 meters (20 to 60 feet) above the ground. It can also nest on a cliff ledge, in a cave, in a split tree trunk, or even on the ground. It does not add much material to the old nest, sometimes adding just a few feathers.
