Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Great horned owls are magnificent, nocturnal birds native to North America named for the tufts of feathers protruding from their heads. Their stark yellow glares stand out at night as they use their impressive night vision to locate prey. A neck that can turn nearly 360 degrees makes this survey even easier. When it is time to go for a kill, their soft wings allow them to soar through the air without a sound. With this, they can surprise-attack prey with a death-grip from their spine-snapping talons. They can take down a wide array of animals with this stealthy hunting strategy from small rodents to other adult birds of prey. Mating pairs of great horned owls will stay with each other for years, and can be heard calling to each other at night with deep, booming “hoots”. They have historically been popular choices as characters in folklore, myths, and books because of their simultaneously mysterious, intimidating, and wise aura.