Our fans have voted, and the results are in, and the Great Horned Owl is the winner of intoBird’s Raptor Bowl.
Thanks to everyone who voted.
The Great Horned Owl came out on top as your favorite bird of prey from a field of 15 contestants:
-Golden Eagle
-Peregrine Falcon
-Eurasian Eagle-owl
-Great Horned Owl
-Northern Goshawk
-Red-tailed Hawk
-Bald Eagle
-Barn Owl
-Gyrfalcon
-Snowy Owl
-Osprey
-American Kestrel
Meet the Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owls are aggressive and powerful hunters and are also known as the tiger owl or the hoot owl.
Contrary to its name, The Great Horned Owl has no horns.
This big owl is named for the tufts of feathers that sit on top of its head, called plumicorns.
Scientists don’t know why these owls sport the tufts, but they do have a few theories.
The tufts might help members of their own species to recognize each other among the forest around them.
Or the owls may use the tufts as camouflage to blend into their surroundings, making them look more like broken tree branches than a tasty meal.
Great Horned Owl’s Habitat
Great Horned Owls are one of the most common owls native to the Americas.
You can find them in a range of habitats that include forests, swamps, deserts, tundra edges, tropical rainforests, cities, suburbs, and parks.
Great Horned Owl’s Sounds
They make a deep, soft, stuttering hoot.
Hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo.
You’re most likely to hear an owl hoot at night because they are nocturnal birds.
Eyes That Swivel
Great Horned Owls have big eyes and wide pupils that allow them to spot their prey.
Unlike human’s eyes, their eyes don’t move in their sockets, but the owls can swivel their heads to look in any direction.
Their short but wide wings allow them to fly through the forest, and their soft feathers help them approach prey very quietly.
Prey and Pellets
Great horned owls eat a wide variety of prey, including mall rodents, skunks, geese, rabbits, hawks, snakes, and even skunks.
These owls sometimes swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate pellets composed of bone, fur, and other unwanted parts of their meal.