Great Horned Owl

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Great Horned Owl
Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

Great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Eagle Owls ( Bubo )
Type : Great Horned Owl
Scientific name
Bubo virginianus
( Gmelin , 1788)

The Great Horned Owl ( Bubo virginianus ) is a bird art from the genus of eagle owls ( Bubo ) that the family of authentics owl (Strigidae) and to order the owls heard (Strigiformes). It is closely related to the Magellanic Eagle Owl ( Bubo magellanicus ), which has long been considered a subspecies of the Great Horned Owl .

features

The great horned owl is one of the largest owl species on the American continent with a length of 46–63 centimeters and a wingspan of 91 to 151 centimeters. The females are 10-20% larger than the males. The weight of the great horned owl is 900–1800 g. The plumage color varies from gray to red-brown. On the underside, dark stripes run along his body and a white band on his chest. The belly is a little lighter than the back. It has long ears or "horns" which explain its English name, the Great Horned Owl . As with all eagle owls, however, these feather ears have no significance for the sense of hearing . The large eyes are yellowish orange in color. The feet are feathered up to the claws.

The male's singing is a deep, wide-sounding bu-bubú booh booh that is repeated at intervals of several seconds. The female sings similarly, but has a different rhythm and calls bu-bububú booh .

habitat

The great horned owl prefers open landscapes with trees or forest edges, but also wooded mountain regions up to 4,000 m altitude and even parks.

Diet and Lifestyle

The great horned owl feeds primarily on mammals that can weigh up to three times its own body weight, including rats , mice , rabbits and skunks , but also on birds such as pigeons , ducks and other owls. The hunt usually takes place in gliding flight, the prey is struck in a dive with the wings drawn up. He hunts fish , amphibians and small alligators , sometimes walking on the ground and even in the water.

Great horned owls can live over 30 years in captivity, and wild animals rarely live more than 15 years.

Voice and procreation

Three young great horned owls in the nest

During the mating season in January and February, males and females let out the typical call hu-hu huuh hu-hu . The male's voice is deeper than that of the female.

Like most eagle owls, great horned owls don't build nests, but like to use abandoned birds of prey nests. Their eggs (two to four in a clutch) are hatched within 28-35 days, with only the females incubating. The young animals climb out of the nest after six to seven weeks, and after nine to ten weeks the young are fledged.

The parents often share the same territory for many years, but live solitary outside of the breeding season.

distribution

Distribution area of ​​the Great Horned Owl

The great horned owl is found in much of North America outside the Arctic, as well as in some regions of Central and South America . In southern South America, its distribution area borders on that of the closely related Magellan owl , which inhabits the Andes region as far as Tierra del Fuego. According to the IUCN, the species is currently not endangered.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are distinguished:

  • B. v. virginianus
  • B. v. lagophonus
  • B. v. algistus
  • B. v. saturatus
  • B. v. pacificus
  • B. v. elachistus
  • B. v. subarcticus
  • B. v. wapacuthu
  • B. v. occidentalis
  • B. v. arcticus
  • B. v. heterocnemis
  • B. v. scalariventris
  • B. v. mayensis
  • B. v. mesembrinus
  • B. v. pallescens
  • B. v. nigrescens
  • B. v. colombianus
  • B. v. nacurutu
  • B. v. scotinus
  • B. v. elutus
  • B. v. icelus
  • B. v. neochorus
  • B. v. deserti

supporting documents

Single receipts

  1. ↑ König et al., P. 319
  2. ↑ Bubo virginianus . BirdLife International , accessed February 16, 2016 .

literature

Web links

Commons : Great horned owl  album with pictures, videos and audio files