Great Horned owls are known for being lenient with where they decide to live. This means they can be found in a variety of different places and spread out far and wide mainly through the States. So, where do they tend to live most?
The Great Horned Owl is the most common owl in North and South America, with a large population in Canada. Within North America they largely occupy Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Okak, Newfoundland, and the Mackenizie Mountains, to name a few. Within South America they are often spotted in Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. They are highly adaptable birds and therefore can flourish in environments ranging from the Arctic to the warmer southern areas. They do not tend to be found within north western South America and do not populate the Amazon.
Great Horned owls are not fussy with where they consider home, they can be found in farmlands, wetlands, shrublands, woodlands, freshwater marshes, grasslands, forests, gardens, cities, and public parks. They are able to live in a wide range of areas because they have an extremely varied diet. It has been noted that they may be less likely to breed in tall grasslands or within desert areas but this may just depend on the sub-species, as scientists have identified more than ten different subspecies and these prefer slightly different habitats. Great Horned are often spotted in desert areas so this suggests some species do consider this a home.
It appears that forests are an all round favourite for nesting though, probably because they feel the most protected and away from people. Within Colorado, the Great Horned shares its territory with Long-Eared and Barn owls. Surprisingly, they do well in cities and urban areas, they will be seen in local parks and enjoy having many options to perch within the architecture of the city. Since Great Horned’s are usually nocturnal they can come out at night and be relatively free from too many human eyes.
The Great Horned owls that populate California are often found at an altitude of 6,999 feet – 10,800 feet. This is because they tend to choose to live high in the mountains. They can live at sea level along coastlines if they choose but also live high up above sea level – the highest altitude being 14,800 feet for a Great Horned over the sea in Peru.
Great Horned owls rarely migrate, the only ones that tend to migrate would be those that live in the northern areas and may migrate in winter but otherwise they tend to make permanent residency in one area.
Therefore, if you are reading this article in attempt to spot a Great Horned for yourself, your odds are pretty high if you are from the States or Canada and you most probably wont even need to travel far at all. They are most likely to become active once the sun goes down, so ensure to set up your look out spot in time for sunset unless it is the winter, when you can spot them sometimes hunting during the day! 🙂