Great Horned Owl
Learn to identify the Great Horned Owl by ear. Master the "hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Great Horned Owl sounds like
With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
“hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Great Horned Owl
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Great Horned Owl's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.
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Where you'll hear it
Nearly any habitat with some trees or tall structures for nesting. Inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests, open woodlands, swamps, orchards, suburban neighborhoods, farm groves, grasslands with scattered trees, and even city parks. Avoids only extremely treeless tundra or dense rainforests.
This owl nests very early in the year. Courtship and mating happen in mid-winter (Dec–Feb), with pairs hooting duets. They often use old nests of other birds. Eggs are incubated in late winter, and owlets hatch by early spring. Through summer the young mature and disperse by fall. In winter, adults call frequently to establish territory. Primarily nocturnal year-round, but in winter they may be heard calling at dusk and dawn more often.
Similar species
Barred Owl
No ear tufts; round-headed appearance. Barred Owls have dark eyes and a fully streaked/barred chest without a white throat patch. Their call is a rhythmic "who cooks for you" hooting, different from the Great Horned’s classic hoot pattern.
Great Gray Owl
Larger in length but much less bulky, with a huge round gray head and no ear tufts. Great Gray Owls have small yellow eyes set in large facial disks and a relatively gentle, low-key "whooo" call. They favor boreal forests and meadows. Great Horneds have a more compact body, 'horns,' and bolder pattern with a white throat patch.
Barn Owl
A distinctly different owl with a white, heart-shaped facial disk, no ear tufts, and much smaller body. Barn Owls have black eyes and a pale golden-white overall appearance. Their call is a long harsh scream, unlike the hooting of a Great Horned.