Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Before dawn, a low series of hoots rises from the winter trees. Great Horned Owls may already be calling to a mate while the mountain forest is still quiet.
When to Notice
Winter (December–February); courtship calls carry through bare woods.
Where to Look
Listen near mixed forests, fields bordered by trees, and wooded ridges. Owls often perch high and remain hard to see.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT
FEATHER TUFTS
Two prominent feather tufts.
YELLOW EYES
Stricking yellow eyes.
BODY AND WINGS
A bulky body and broad wings.
VOICE
Deep, spaced hoots.
Ecological context
Forest connections
Its place in the Blue Ridge
A Nighttime Hunter
Great Horned Owls hunt mice, rabbits, squirrels, and many other animals. Their place near the top of the food web links open fields, forest edges, and woodland interiors through the prey they capture.
Borrowed Nests
Rather than building a typical nest of their own, Great Horned Owls often use old nests made by hawks, crows, or other large birds. A structure built in an earlier season can become shelter for a new brood in winter.
From deep mountain forests to wooded valleys and open fields, Great Horned Owls occupy a wide range of Blue Ridge habitats. As powerful nighttime hunters, they help shape populations of small mammals and other prey, while mature trees provide sheltered places for nesting and roosting. Their deep calls carry through the winter woods, revealing a hidden side of the mountain landscape after daylight fades.
A small wonder
Their soft-edged flight feathers help reduce sound as they fly, allowing an owl to approach prey with remarkably little noise.
Notice for yourself
Step outside near dusk and listen for a slow pattern of deep hoots. Can you hear a second owl answering from farther away? Listen from a distance without approaching a nest.
- always observe species in place and leave them undisturbed.
Explore further
Follow more stories from this forest.
Barred Owl
Red-Tailed Hawk
Eastern Gray Squirrel