Week of 01.13.25
Who... who... who is this week's bird? The great horned owl, of course! Known best for its fierce gaze and classic hoot, these birds are seen across a variety of popular media, and become a favorite each year around Halloween.
Great horned owls are easily distinguishable from other owls due to their iconic "ear" tufts, which stick up from either side of their head. These feather groupings are called plumicorns and sometimes resemble horns - hence the name. Great horned owls have large, yellow eyes that help them seek out prey. These birds, like other owls, are fierce predators. Great horned owls are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. Large eyes well-equipped for low light allow these birds to hunt in pitch darkness, searching for prey under the blanket of night. Great horned owls also sport large talons, which make it easy to swoop down on unsuspecting prey and hold on tight as they fly away. Owls (of all kinds) are famous for near-silent flight, which also allows them to sneak up on prey. To learn more about silent flight and how it is made possible, visit the Audubon Society website.
Contrary to popular belief, owls cannot turn their head 360 degrees. They can, however, turn it 270 degrees - way further than the 180 degrees of humans! This is helpful for keeping a range of sight at all times, again, making them great hunters.
Great horned owls often give the appearance of being serious, stoic, or even angry, thanks to feather patterns that create a low "v" shape on their head.
Great horned owls live throughout the entire continental United States and Alaska. As a result, their size and feather color differ slightly depending on their environment. On average, they weigh 2-3 pounds and stand 20-24 inches tall. These birds do not migrate, and stay through the winter, braving freezing conditions and driving winds. An abundance of thick, fluffy feathers helps great horned owls stay warm all winter long. Owls, as a whole, are masters of hiding. Winter is the best time to spot a great horned owl, when leaves are down and the sun sets early. If you are interested in seeing one, try listening first. It is much easier to hear these birds than it is to see them! Once you hear their call, you can begin narrowing in on their location.
Given their reputation for intelligence, owls are frequently leveraged by media and marketing as icons for companies that wish to be perceived as sources of competency and wisdom. One such example is TripAdvisor, whose logo you may have seen. Look at those plumicorns!
You may also recognize the foreboding face of the DuoLingo owl, who is here to remind you of your missed Spanish language practice. Andale!
Regardless of their brand, great horned owls have been repurposed by marketing and popular culture for years. Great horned owls are also seen countless times in children's story books, representing wisdom and intelligence. The "wise old owl" is a recurring trope in many early children's stories, and remains popular in modern literature.
But really...
this is what they get up to most days.
Have a great week!
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Sources:
Art by Anne Longman