Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus



Photos by Peter LaTourrette.  North American Birds Photo Gallery
Conditions of Use 

play song (counter-singing by two owls)

The song or call above is in .mp3 format.  You will need an mp3 player in order to listen.  If you do not have an mp3 player you can download one.  Click on the picture below.  It's free and works great!

 

Field Marks
  • Very large owl with prominent tufts
  • Yellow eyes and dark bill
  • Upper parts mottled brown, gray, and black
  • Pale under parts with fine brown bars
  • Reddish-brown facial disks bordered by black with a lower border of white
  • White throat patch

Habitat

Within its range the great horned owl can be found in dense woodlands of hardwoods and conifers, along cliffs and rocky canyons, and in forest openings. In general, the great horned owl is solitary and inhabits unsettled places.

Status

Great Horned Owls are not all that common in the Atlanta area, but they have been spotted in Fernbank Forest.