# owl with ear tufts The Great Horned Owl is a big bird with fluffy ear tufts that look like horns! They are known for their beautiful feathers and big, bright eyes that help them see at night. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![owl with ear tufts](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/133553640/medium.jpg) Photo: caroline legg, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/133553640) ## Appearance The owl with ear tufts is a large, stocky bird with mottled gray, brown, and white plumage, providing excellent camouflage. It has prominent feather tufts on its head, resembling ears or horns, and striking yellow eyes within a distinct facial disk. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Genus:** Darapsa ## Interesting facts - Its deep hooting call sounds like "Who's awake? Me too!", echoing through the night. - These owls often use abandoned nests from hawks or squirrels, not building their own! - This owl can swallow small prey whole, later spitting out furry, undigested pellets! - Those ear tufts aren't ears; they are just feathers for camouflage and expression! ## Special abilities - **Silent Hunter:** The owl with ear tufts can fly almost silently because its soft, serrated wing feathers muffle sound, helping it surprise prey. - **Pinpoint Hearing:** The owl with ear tufts has asymmetrical ear openings that help it precisely locate prey using sound alone, even hidden under snow. - **Night Sight:** The owl with ear tufts possesses large, fixed eyes packed with light-sensitive cells, allowing it to see incredibly well in very dim light. - **Grip Strength:** The owl with ear tufts has extremely strong talons that can deliver a crushing grip, instantly subduing even large prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-63 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-150 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 30-37 days ## Diet & Feeding This skilled night hunter eats small mammals, birds, and even insects for dinner! - **Primary Foods:** Mice, Rabbits, Skunks, Squirrels, Small Birds, Snakes - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — A key part of its varied diet across its range. - **Hunts:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — One of the few predators that regularly preys on skunks. - **Shelter:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Often uses the abandoned nests of this hawk to raise its young. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Don't get too close to wild owls; they are best enjoyed from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify owl with ear tufts? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is owl with ear tufts? 45-63 cm ### What is owl with ear tufts's wingspan? 100-150 cm ### How much does owl with ear tufts weigh? 0.9-2.5 kg ### How long does owl with ear tufts live? 10-15 years ### How fast can owl with ear tufts move? 65 km/h ### What does owl with ear tufts eat? This skilled night hunter eats small mammals, birds, and even insects for dinner! ### Where is owl with ear tufts usually found? Forests ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Owl With Ear Tufts: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/owl-with-ear-tufts)