Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus pacificus
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Bubo Species: B. virginianus
Binomial name
Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788)
Distribution
Subspecies
see text Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x3456, 1275 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Great Horned Owl Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... Genera Aegolius: saw-whet owls Asio: eared owls Athene Bubo: horned owls Ciccaba Glaucidium: pygmy owls Jubula Lophostrix Micrathene: elf owls Mimizuku Nesasio Ninox Otus: scops owls Pseudoscops Pulsatrix Pyrroglaux: palau owls Sceloglaux Scotopelia Speotyto Strix: earless owls Surnia: hawk owls Uroglaux Xenoglaux Typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of... Species 17, see text The horned owls are a genus (Bubo) of 17 species of typical owls which are found in many parts of the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Johann Friedrich Gmelin (August 8, 1748 - November 1, 1804) was a German naturalist and botanist. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (417x612, 15 KB) Distribution of Bubo virginianus, Map made by Achim Raschka. ... This article is about the zoological term. ...
Synonyms
Strix virginiana Gmelin, 1788 In scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. ...

The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a very large owl native to North and South America. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range, though it is not as widespread as the Barn Owl. Genera Aegolius: saw-whet owls Asio: eared owls Athene Bubo: horned owls Ciccaba Glaucidium: pygmy owls Jubula Lophostrix Micrathene: elf owls Mimizuku Nesasio Ninox Otus: scops owls Pseudoscops Pulsatrix Pyrroglaux: palau owls Sceloglaux Scotopelia Speotyto Strix: earless owls Surnia: hawk owls Uroglaux Xenoglaux Typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of... Binomial name Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) Synonyms Strix alba Scopoli, 1769 Lechusa stirtoni Miller, 1956 The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) or, to distinguish it from relatives, Common Barn Owl, is an owl in the barn owl family Tytonidae. ...

Distribution

The breeding habitat of the Great Horned Owl extends almost throughout both North America and South America. The habitats they can take up residence in include deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, tropical rainforests, pampas, prairie, mountainous areas, deserts, subarctic tundra, rocky coasts, mangrove swamps, and some urban areas. Though less common in the more extreme areas (i.e. the heart of the deserts, extremely dense rainforests) and missing from the high Arctic tundra, they are found in most habitats. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Deciduous means temporary or tending to fall off (deriving from the Latin word decidere, to fall off) and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally. ... Orders & Families Cordaitales † Pinales   Pinaceae - Pine family   Araucariaceae - Araucaria family   Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family   Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family   Cupressaceae - Cypress family   Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family   Taxaceae - Yew family Vojnovskyales † Voltziales † The conifers, division Pinophyta, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. ... Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests are a temperate and humid biome. ... Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of the world Amazon river rain forest in Brazil Tropical rainforests are rainforests generally found near the equator. ... This article is about the lowland plains in South America. ... Prairie grasses Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herbs, with few trees, and having generally a mesic (moderate or temperate) climate. ... Lyskamm, 4 527 m, Pennine Alps Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah national park, Virginia A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. ... Mangrove swamps are a characteristic for the tropical and subtropical coasts. ... Crowded Shibuya, Tokyo shopping district An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. ...

Description

Individuals range in length from 46 to 68 cm (18 to 27 inches) and have a wingspan of 101 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches). An average Great Horned Owl is 55 cm (22 inches) long, has a wingspan of 124 cm (49 inches) and weighs about 1400 grams (3.1 lbs). Generally, the largest owls are found closer to the Polar regions and the smallest owls are found closer to the Equator. Females are larger than males. Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish, brown or gray face and a white patch on the throat. The iris is yellow, except in the race B. v. nacurutu where it is amber. The ear tufts are not actually ears, but simply tufts of feathers. The underparts are light with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown. The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons. There are individual and regional variations in color; birds from the sub-Arctic are a washed-out, light-buff color, while those from Central America can be a dark chocolate brown. Owls also have spectacular binocular vision needed to pinpoint prey and see in the dark. Because owls cannot move their eyes like we can, their neck must be able to turn a full 270 degrees in order to see in other directions without moving its entire body. An owl's hearing is as good — if not better — than its vision. Owls have stereo hearing that allows them to find the exact location of their prey. Location of the polar regions Northern Hemisphere permafrost (permanently frozen ground) in purple. ... World map showing the equator in red In tourist areas, the equator is often marked on the sides of roads The equator marked as it crosses Ilhéu das Rolas, in São Tomé and Príncipe. ... In anatomy, the iris (plural irises or irides) is the most visible part of the eye of vertebrates, including humans. ... Amber is an orange-yellow color that got its name for the material known as an amber. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border Satellite image of the Arctic surface The Arctic is the region around the Earths North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ...

Reproduction

Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest-breeding birds in North America. They breed in late January or early February and are often heard calling to each other in the fall, starting in October. They choose a mate by December and are often heard duetting before this time. For owls found in more tropical climes, the dates of the breeding season are somewhat undefined. They often take over a nest used by some other large bird, sometimes adding feathers to line the nest but usually not much more. Old crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk and large squirrel nests are often favored in North America. However, they are far from dependent on the old nests of others and may use cavities in trees and snags, cliffs, deserted buildings, and artificial platforms. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... For other meanings of bird, see bird (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 Common Raven range Subspecies The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is a large all-black passerine bird in the crow family, with iridescent feathers. ... Binomial name Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large bird of prey which breeds from western Alaska and northern Canada to Panama and the West Indies. ... Genera Many, see the article Sciuridae. ...

There are usually 2 eggs per clutch, with a clutch ranging in size from 1 to 5 eggs (5 is very rare). The average egg breadth is 46.5 mm (1.8 inches), the average length is 55.2 mm (2.2 inches) and the average weight is 51 grams (1.8 oz). The incubation period ranges from 30 to 37 days, averaging 33 days. Brooding is almost continuous until the offspring are about 2 weeks old, after which it decreases. Young owls move onto nearby branches at 6 weeks and start to fly about a week later. The offspring have still been seen begging for food in late October (5 months after leaving the nest) and most do not separate from their parents until right before they start to reproduce for the next clutch (usually December). Birds may not breed for another year or two, and are often vagrants ("floaters") until they establish their own territories. All adult Great Horned Owls are permanent residents of their territories. Eggs, nestlings and fledgings may be preyed on by foxes, coyotes, wild or feral cats and racoons and their cousins. There are almost no predators of adults, but they may be killed in confrontations with eagles, Snowy Owls and, mostly, other Great Horned Owls, which may end in the eating of the dead owl. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Binomial name Say, 1823 Coyote range The coyote (Canis latrans) also known as the prairie wolf [2]) is a mammal of the order carnivora. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Racoon is a Dutch rock band, formed in 1997. ... Genera Several, see below. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Strix scandiaca Linnaeus, 1758 Nyctea scandiaca Stephens, 1826 The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. ...

Hunting and Behavior

Great Horned Owl in flight (composite)

The birds hunt at night by waiting on a high perch and swooping down on prey. Prey is quite variable, but is predominantly small to medium-sized mammals such as rats, squirrels, mice, rabbits, voles, marmots, skunks, shrews, bats, raccoons, house cats and even porcupines. Locally, hares and rabbits can comprise a great majority of subsistence for Great Horned Owls. Birds comprise the other large portion of Great Horned Owl prey, with birds ranging in size from kinglets to Great Blue Herons being taken. Locally, waterbirds, especially coots and ducks, can be important prey; raptors up to the size of Snowy Owls and Ospreys are sometimes taken. Reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and even insects are occasional prey. In northern regions, where larger prey that cannot be eaten quickly are most prevalent, they may let uneaten food freeze and then thaw it out later using their own body heat. They also tend to eat and regurgitate food in the same locations. Great Horned Owls are often said to be the most dangerous owl, and it is reportedly the only bird of prey that has been known to kill a human being, but it should be noted that these attacks are never predatory, and that the only known fatal attack was triggered by the victim, who was trying to steal eggs or chicks from the owl's nest. Other species of owl will also attack to protect their young. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x800, 583 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Great Horned Owl ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x800, 583 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Great Horned Owl ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in female mammary glands and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex region in... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ... Genera Several, see text Squirrel is the common name for rodents of the family Sciuridae. ... Feral mouse A mouse (plural mice) is a rodent that belongs to one of numerous species of small mammals. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a shorter, hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes. ... Species See text. ... Genera Conepatus Mydaus Mephitis Spilogale Skunks are mammals, usually with black-and-white fur, that are best known for their ability to excrete a strong foul smelling odor. ... It has been suggested that Echolocating shrew be merged into this article or section. ... “Chiroptera” redirects here. ... Type species Procyon lotor Linnaeus, 1758 Species Procyon cancrivorus Procyon insularis Procyon lotor This article is about genus Procyon. ... Trinomial name Felis silvestris catus Schreber, 1775 For alternative meanings see cat (disambiguation). ... Genera Family Erethizontidae Coendou Sphiggurus Erethizon Echinoprocta Chaetomys Family Hystricidae Atherurus Hystrix Thecurus Trichys This article is about the rodent mammal. ... Jack rabbit and Jackrabbit redirect here. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Ardea herodias Linnaeus, 1758 The Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common all over North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos, except in deserts and high mountains where there is no water for... Species Fulica cristata Fulica atra Fulica alai Fulica americana Fulica caribaea Fulica leucoptera Fulica ardesiaca Fulica armillata Fulica rufifrons Fulica gigantea Fulica cornuta Fulica newtoni Fulica chathamensis The coots are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Strix scandiaca Linnaeus, 1758 Nyctea scandiaca Stephens, 1826 The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. ... Binomial name Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Osprey, Pandion haliaetus is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are cold-blooded, covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... Classes & Subclasses Branchiopoda Phyllopoda Sarsostraca Remipedia Cephalocarida Maxillopoda Thecostraca Tantulocarida Branchiura Pentastomida Mystacocarida Copepoda Ostracoda Myodocopa Podocopa Malacostraca Phyllocarida Hoplocarida Eumalacostraca The nauplius larva of a dendrobranchiate Porcellio scaber, the common rough woodlouse, a terrestrial crustacean Pollicipes polymerus, the gooseneck barnacle Glyphea pseudastacus, a fossil glypheoid The crustaceans (Crustacea) are... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (may be paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Diaphanopterodea - extinct Protodonata - extinct Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Caloneurodea - extinct Titanoptera - extinct Protorthoptera - extinct Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera...

Great Horned Owl face

They have excellent hearing and exceptional vision in low light. Their hearing has better depth perception than human hearing (requires reference) and better perception of sound elevation (up-down direction). The latter is possible because owl ears are not placed in the same position on either side of their head: the right ear is typically set higher in the skull and at a slightly different angle. By tilting or turning its head until the sound is the same in each ear, an owl can pinpoint both the horizontal and vertical direction of a sound. The eyes of Great Horned Owls are also nearly as large as those of humans and are immobile within their sockets. Instead of turning their eyes, they turn their heads. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1197, 2323 KB) Summary Taken by Peter Manidis, (AKA Falxuis). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1197, 2323 KB) Summary Taken by Peter Manidis, (AKA Falxuis). ...

Their call is a low-pitched but loud "ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo." Sometimes it is only four syllables instead of five. The female's call is higher and rises in pitch at the end of the call. Young owls make hissing or screeching sounds that are often confused with the calls of Barn Owls. Bird song refers to the sounds, usually melodious to the human ear, made by many birds of the order Passeriformes as a form of communication. ... Binomial name Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) Synonyms Strix alba Scopoli, 1769 Lechusa stirtoni Miller, 1956 The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) or, to distinguish it from relatives, Common Barn Owl, is an owl in the barn owl family Tytonidae. ...

The Great Horned Owl is the provincial bird of Alberta. Great Horned Owls can be easily confused with Bubo magellanicus, the Magellanic Horned Owl (which was for some time believed to belong in this species), and other eagle-owls. This is a list of the symbols of Canadian provinces and territories. ... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [Province]) Area Ranked... The hierarchy of scientific classification. ... Binomial name Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) The Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of horned owl resident in much of Europe and Asia. ...

Subspecies

A large number of subspecies have been named. As indicated above, many of these are only examples of individual or clinal variation. Subspecies differences are mainly in color and size and generally follow Gloger's and Bergmann's Rules. This article is about the zoological term. ... In population genetics, a cline is a gradual change of a character or feature (phenotype) in a species over a geographical area, often as a result of environmental heterogeneity. ... Glogers Rule is a zoological rule which states that within the same species of endotherms, more heavily pigmented forms tend to be found near the equator and lighter forms away from the equator. ... The large size of a polar bear allows it to radiate less heat in a cold climate. ...

• B. v. virginianus (Gmelin, 1788): Common Great Horned Owl

USA eastwards from Minnesota to E Texas; northeastwards to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada. Resident all-year.

A brown form, tinged rufous and barred distinctly blackish-brown below. Feet tawny to buff, often barred black.

• B. v. nacurutu (Vieillot, 1817): South American Great Horned Owl

A lowland form occurring in disjunct populations from from E Colombia to the Guyanas; also from Bolivia and Brazil south of the Amazonas basin to N Argentina; resident all-year. Includes the proposed subspecies scotinus, elutus, and deserti (Holt et al. 1999). The status of this form, especially the relationships between the subpopulations and with ssp. nigrescens and the Magellanic Horned Owl, deserves more study.

Dull brownish with long bill; birds from the semiarid interior of Brazil often have much white on uppertail- and ear-coverts. It is the only subspecies where the iris is amber, not yellow.

• B. v. subarcticus Hoy, 1852: Northern Great Horned Owl

Breeding range from Mackenzie and NE British Columbia E to Hudson Bay; southern limit unclear but at least reaches to Montana and North Dakota. Non-breeding birds are regularly found south to latitude 45°S, occasionally beyond. Includes the birds described as occidentalis (but see below), and sclariventris (Dickerman 2004). The older name wapacuthu was occasionally used for this subspecies, but it cannot with certainty be assigned to a recognizable taxon and is thus considered a nomen dubium. The population described as algistus is probably based on wandering individuals and/or intergrades of subarcticus, saturatus and lagophonus.(Holt et al. 1999)

A pale form, essentially whitish with faint buff tinge; black underside barring variable from indistinct to pronounced. Very pale birds are similar to a young female Snowy Owl from a distance. Feet whitish to buff, with little or no pattern.

• B. v. pacificus Cassin, 1854: California Great Horned Owl

Central and southern California west of the Sierra Nevada except San Joaquin Valley, south to NW Baja California, Mexico. Intergrades with pallescens in San Diego County, California (see also below). Resident all-year.

Very rich brown, dark underside barring distinct but less pronounced that in saturatus. Humeral area black. Feet mottled dark.

• B. v. saturatus Ridgway, 1877: Coastal Great Horned Owl

Pacific coast from SE Alaska to N California. Resident all-year.

A dark, dull and somewhat greyish form with heavily barred underside. Feet fairly dusky overall.

• B. v. nigrescens Berlepsch, 1884: North Andean Great Horned Owl

Andes; arid temperate and puna zones from Colombia to NW Peru. Resident all-year round.

A dark, cold gray-brown form with heavy fuscous blotching.

• B. v. pallescens Stone, 1897: Desert Great Horned Owl

San Joaquin Valley southeastwards through arid regions of SE California and S Utah eastwards to W Kansas and southwards to Guerrero and W Veracruz in Mexico; intergrades with pacificus in San Diego County; vagrant individuals of lagophonus and the Rocky Mountains population, which look similar to intergrades, also seem to occur in its range. Resident all-year.

A small, pale dusky buff form with indistinct barring, especially on the underside. Humeral area umber. Feet white and usually unmarked.

• B. v. mayensis (Nelson, 1901): Yucatán Great Horned Owl

Yucatán Peninsula. Resident all-year.

A small and medium pale form.

• B. v. elachistus Brewster, 1902: Baja California Great Horned Owl

S Baja California, Mexico. Resident all-year.

Similar in color to pacificus, but considerably (5-10%) smaller; some overlap though.

• B. v. heterocnemis (Oberholser, 1904): Northeastern Great Horned Owl

Breeds in E Canada (N Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland). In winter, disperses southwards to Ontario to NW USA. Doubtfully distinct from saturatus (Holt et al. 1999).

A fairly dark and grey, heavily barred form. Feet pale with dusky mottling.

• B. v. lagophonus (Oberholser, 1904): Northwestern Great Horned Owl

Breeds from inland Alaska south through mountaineous areas of British Columbia to NE Oregon, the Snake River, and NW Montana. Reported in winter as far south as Colorado and Texas. Doubtfully distinct from saturatus (Holt et al. 1999).

Greyer than saturatus, but similar overall. Feet with dusky barring.

• B. v. mesembrinus (Oberholser, 1904): Central American Great Horned Owl

Isthmus of Tehuantepec to W Panama. Resident all-year.

A mid-sized form; darker than mayensis.

• B. v. ssp. nov.?: Rocky Mountains Great Horned Owl

The Rocky Mountains population may constitute an as yet undescribed subspecies. It breeds south of the Snake River south to Arizona, New Mexico, and the Guadalupe Mountains. Westwards, it is presumed to occur to the Modoc Plateau and Mono Lake. The name occidentalis may apply to these birds pending analysis of the type specimen; certainly, they were included in the presumed subspecies named thus, but intergradation between pallescens and lagophonus and altitudinal migration of Rocky Mountain birds is not sufficiently researched yet (Holt et al. 1999).

A medium gray form, intermediate between lagophonus and pallescens. Moderately barred and tinged buff on the underside. Feet mottled.

The Pleistocene Sinclair Owl from California, Bubo sinclairi, may be a paleosubspecies of this species (Howard 1947). Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit(Latin) One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis - Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 11 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area... Motto: Parva Sub Ingenti (Latin: The Small Protected By The Great) Capital Charlottetown Largest city Charlottetown Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman - Premier Robert Ghiz (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 4 - Senate seats 4 Confederation July 1, 1873 (7th) Area  Ranked 13th - Total 5... Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (May 10, 1748 - 1831) was a French ornithologist. ... Amazonas is the name of four subnational entities in various South American nations. ... In anatomy, the iris (plural irises or irides) is the most visible part of the eye of vertebrates, including humans. ... , Mackenzie is a small town in central British Columbia. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Hudson Bay, Canada. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26N to 49°N  - Longitude 104°2W to 116°2W Population  Ranked... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Latitude,usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi, , gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator. ... A taxon (plural taxa), or taxonomic unit, is a grouping of organisms (named or unnamed). ... In scientific classification, a nomen dubium (Latin for doubtful name, plural nomina dubia) is a scientific name that is valid but of unknown or doubtful application: that is, it may be impossible to determine whether a specimen belongs to that group or not. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Strix scandiaca Linnaeus, 1758 Nyctea scandiaca Stephens, 1826 The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. ... John Cassin (September 6, 1813 - January 10, 1869) was an American ornithologist. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for Snowy Range) is a mountain range that is almost entirely in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Baja California (literally lower California in Spanish) is the northernmost state of Mexico. ... San Diego County is a county located on the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of California, along the border with Mexico. ... The humerus is a long bone in the arm or fore-legs (animals) that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. ... Robert Ridgway. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Count Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig von Berlepsch (1850 - February 27, 1915) was a German ornithologist. ... Planes view of the Andes, Peru. ... For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ... Puna District, Hawaii The Puna district of the Big Island is located on the windward side of the Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. ... In general terms, the climate of a locale or region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English[2] Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... Guerrero is a state in the United Mexican States. ... The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states that comprise Mexico. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... Raw umber Umber is a natural brown clay pigment which contains iron and manganese oxides. ... Edward William Nelson (May 8, 1855 - May 19, 1934) was an American naturalist and ethnologist. ... The Yucatán peninsula as seen from space The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. ... William Brewster (July 5, 1851 - 1919) was an American ornithologist. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... , Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area  Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² (595... Labrador (also Coast of Labrador) is a region of Atlantic Canada. ... Newfoundland —   IPA: [nuw fÉ™n lænd] (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area [1] Ranked... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Snake River (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an isthmus in Mexico. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... Guadalupe Mountains The Guadalupe Mountains are a mountain range located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. ... The Modoc Plateau lies in the northeast corner of California as well as parts of Oregon and Nevada. ... Mono Lake is an alkaline and hypersaline lake in California, United States that is a critical nesting habitat for several bird species and is one of the most productive ecosystems in North America[citation needed]. // Satellite photo of Mono Lake Mono Craters to the right of the image are rhyolitic... Type specimens When a new species is discovered, more important than creating a new and unique name for the species is developing a reasonably detailed description. ... A chronospecies is a species which changes physically, morphologically, genetically, and/or behaviorally over time on an evolutionary scale such that the originating species and the species it becomes could not be classified as the same species had they existed at the same point in time. ...

References in Media

• The "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" book series has two great horned owl characters, Bubo the Blacksmith and Skench the Ablah General.

Guardians of GaHoole is The New York Times bestselling book series written by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. ...

Media

Images

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bubo virginianus

Great Horned Owl stretching while standing on a branch. Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3456x2304, 1446 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Great Horned Owl Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used...

Bubo virginianus foot detail. Mounted specimen. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (848x466, 51 KB) Photo by David Stang. ...

Three Bubo virginianus chicks. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2500x1666, 709 KB) Baby Great Horned Owls that are 3 weeks old. ...

Video

Image File history File links Bubo_virginianus. ...

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Bubo virginianus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

• Dickerman, Robert W. (2004): Notes on the type of Bubo virginianus sclariventris. Bull. B.O.C. 124(1): 5-6. PDF fulltext

• Holt, Denver W., Berkley, Regan; Deppe, Caroline; Enríquez Rocha, Paula L.; Olsen, Penny D.; Petersen, Julie L.; Rangel Salazar, José Luis; Segars, Kelley P. & Wood, Kristin L. (1999): 69. Great Horned Owl. In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (eds): Handbook of Birds of the World, Volume 5: Barn-owls to Hummingbirds: 185, plate 10. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-25-3

• Howard, Hildegarde (1947): A preliminary survey of trends in avian evolution from Pleistocene to recent time. Condor 49(1): 10-13. PDF fulltext

• Houston, C. S., Smith, D. G. & Rohner, C. (1998): Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). In: Poole, A. & Gill, F. (eds.): The Birds of North America 372. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA & American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. Online version, retrieved 2006-DEC-05. doi:10.2173/bna.372 (requires subscription)

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club (ISSN 0007-1595) is an ornithological journal published by the British Ornithologists Club. ... Handbook of Birds of the World vol. ... The Condor is the quarterly journal of the Cooper Ornithological Society. ... The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia was founded in 1812 to expand knowledge of the natural world. ... The American Ornithologists Union (AOU) an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ...

External links

• Washington NatureMapping Program: Great Horned Owl Fact Sheet for Grades 7-12. Retrieved 2006-DEC-05.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Great Horned Owl Species Account. Retrieved 2007-JAN-29.
• South Dakota Birds and Birding: Great Horned Owl Information and Photos. Retrieved 2007-JAN-29.
• USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter: Great Horned Owl Information. Retrieved 2007-JAN-29.
• Great Horned Owl videos on the Internet Bird Collection