The great horned owl is also known as the barred owl.
The Great Horned Owl is a species of owl native to eastern North America. Formally known as Strix varia, the great horned owl is also known as the barred owl. These birds are of little conservation concern because their populations are healthy and robust. In fact, in some areas, they are displacing the more vulnerable spotted owl, an endangered species found primarily in western North America. Conservationists have raised concerns about the owl’s westward migration and the policies adopted to control owl populations.
Hoot Owls are among the most vocal of all owls. They have a distinctive call with an up and down inflection pattern that sounds like “hoo hoo HOO aw”. The sound of the squawking owl has ascending and descending tensions similar to the phrase “who cooks for you? Who cooks for all of you? The birds also whistle when stressed and use other calls to mate, including a long “hoo WAAAAH.” Some of the sounds produced by owls can resemble barking.
Adult flying owls are about 60 centimeters tall and have a wingspan about twice as long. Despite their size, owls are relatively lightweight, typically weighing about half a pound. They have distinctive barred plumage, brown eyes, and feathered feet. Unlike some species of owls, owls do not have ear tufts.
These owls have very limited ranges, tend to mate monogamously, and can be extremely territorial. An owl may not venture too far outside its home range in its lifetime and visitors are definitely not welcome. Owls feed on small animals, usually at dusk, and are most active at night. They can also be active during the day at times and people sometimes hear owls vocalizing in the woods during the day.
A great deal of mythology surrounds owls in general, including legends that alternately suggest that owls are harbingers of evil or wise guides who can bring assistance to people lost in the woods. Some of the legends suggesting that owls are bad omens can be explained by the strange sounds that some species make at night. For humans wandering through a dark forest, the cries and howls of the owl species would be disturbing. Whether they are lucky or not, just like other owls, great horned owls can be beneficial to have in the community because they hunt small pests that can damage crops or ruin food supplies.