One of the biggest and best-known birds in North America is the great horned owl. They are the subject of this post since they are one of our favorite animals. So read on for 10 fun and fascinating facts about the Great Horned Owl.
1 - Men are smaller than females in size.
According to researchers, this may be related to the differences in functions between male and female Great Horned Owls. Due to the fact that females sit just on nests to incubate their eggs, their bigger size may enable them to retain extra food and then go longer between meals. The male's reduced stature might facilitate hunting in constrained forest openings.
2 - The great horned owl lacks horns.
The "horns" that protrude from either side of these owls' heads are one of their distinguishing features. These are only plumicorns, which are tufts of feathers. The owl's ears, which many people would mistake for ears, are situated on each side of its head beneath its feathers. These "horns" may serve as visual clues to other owls; however, their exact function is unknown. They have the ability to either flatten them on their heads or make them stand upright.
3 - To their partners, Great Horned Owls sing!
Both female and male birds have hooting cries that they use throughout their protracted courtship period and throughout the mating season (starting in December). Around their nesting areas, a variety of vocalizations are given as warning sounds, contact calls, or correspondence.
4 - No need to chew.
Great horned owls don't chew their food. They frequently consume their prey entirely, in fact. This implies that they must digest the bones along with the rest of their prey. The owl's gizzard receives any food that the stomach is unable to digest. There, the bones and fur combine to form a pellet that the owl subsequently upchucks.
5 - Great horned owls hunt for perches.
Although they can hunt while awake, they typically hunt at night. They enjoy sitting in tall trees and keeping an eye on open spaces like meadows, wetlands, and forest borders. When there is plenty of food available, they may keep numerous rabbits or gophers at once in a nest.
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Mature owls often go by the name "Cat Owls" because of how much their faces resemble cats. On the crowns of their heads, they have tufts of feathers that resemble horns.
7 - Three eyelids cover their eyes.
Each eyelid serves a distinct purpose. Blinking occurs on the outer eyelid, which is similar to our own. The third eyelid shields the eye from particles while flying, while the central eyelid protects the eye while you sleep.
8 - Neither do great horned owls drink.
Rarely, if ever, do great horned owls drink water. The food they consume provides their bodies with all the water they require.
9 - Great Horned Owls have exceptional vision and hearing!
The amazing Great Horned Owl possesses exceptional vision and hearing, as is common in owls. The bird depends heavily on its sight to hunt successfully because it typically hunts at night. Although this owl's ears are hidden by delicate quills, the sound waves don't seem to be blocked by these feathers.
10 - Killers in silence and invisibility, great horned owls!
Great Horned Owls possess enigmatic plumage that aids in their ability to blend in with their environment. They also don't create any noise while flying since their plumes are so fully worked that the air splits when it hits the wings of the bird.