Great Horned Owls are widespread across Florida. They are commonly found in various environments.
Where Great Horned Owls Live in Florida
Great Horned Owls inhabit a wide range of environments across Florida, from the northern Panhandle to the southern Everglades. They are adaptable birds, found in forests, swamps, and even urban and suburban areas. These owls can be observed in wooded locations, farmlands, and parks, often near open fields where they hunt. They often choose wooded habitats for nesting and roosting, while utilizing open areas for hunting.
How to Identify Great Horned Owls
Identifying Great Horned Owls involves recognizing their distinctive physical traits and vocalizations. These large, thick-bodied owls typically measure 18 to 25 inches in height with a wingspan ranging from 40 to 60.5 inches. Their plumage is mottled gray-brown, featuring a reddish-brown face and a noticeable white throat patch. Their two feathered tufts on the head, often called “ear tufts,” are feather extensions that aid in camouflage, not actual ears.
Their large, yellow eyes assist with low-light vision. These owls are known for their deep, resonant hooting call, often transcribed as “hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo.” While both sexes hoot, the female’s call is typically higher in pitch than the male’s. When hunting, Great Horned Owls exhibit silent flight due to specialized feather structures, allowing them to approach prey undetected.
Great Horned Owl Habits in Florida
Great Horned Owls are primarily nocturnal hunters. They possess keen eyesight and excellent hearing, which enable them to locate prey in low-light conditions. Their hunting strategy often involves watching from a high perch before swooping down to capture prey with their strong talons, which can exert up to 28 pounds of gripping force. They can also hunt from the ground or wade into water.
Their diet is highly diverse, encompassing over 200 species of mammals and around 300 bird species. Common prey in Florida includes rodents, rabbits, skunks, and various birds, even larger raptors such as ospreys and other owls. They may also consume reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Smaller prey items are often swallowed whole, with undigested bones and fur later regurgitated as pellets.
In Florida, their breeding season typically begins as early as December, with courtship hooting starting in November. They usually lay one to four eggs per clutch, most commonly two, and the female incubates them for about 33 days. Great Horned Owls do not build elaborate nests; instead, they often reuse existing nests of other large birds like hawks or crows, or utilize tree cavities, cliffs, and abandoned structures. Both parents participate in feeding and caring for the young until they are able to hunt independently.