The spring of 2019 I was graced with the appearance of a Juvenile Great Horned Owl on my front porch light. I heard a great commotion outside and I went out my front door and didn't see anything. As I turned to come in there he was just sitting in the middle of the afternoon on my porch light. Owls are nocturnal hunters, so it is rare for them to be out and about in mid day. He sat long enough to get my phone and come back out to take pictures of him, then when he was done posing for my pictures he flew away to the top of a giant maple tree.
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), size 50-63 cm with a wingspan up to 1.4m or 4'7". They do not have horns but ear tufts which resemble horns, the juvenile does not have them. They have excellent hearing and are able to hear a mouse move beneath the snow.
Their wing feathers are ragged on the ends giving them a silent flight.
The Great Horned Owl prefers small to medium mammals, snakes, insects, ducks and other birds. Because he is known to be fearless and will kill skunks and porcupines he has a nickname of "flying tiger"
source: Birds of Missouri Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
To this day I hear him who who whooing at dusk and into the night, I don't see him but I do know he's out there taking care of the mice and rabbits in my yard.
Oh wow, what a great sighting, I am happy that he decided to grace you with his presence.
'hear a mouse move beneath the snow' This is still a foreign concept to me... Firstly ICE ON THE GROUND
And secondly -
Shit living underneath it! ...~ Almost as strange as driving a stick~...
I bet snow is a foreign concept to you, it only looks pretty but it horrible in real life 🤣 🤣 I am not one who appreciates any more, I loved it as a kid now it's just not any fun.
I cant imagine having to shovel snow half year round could be any fun, at least we don't have that here, in fact if it wasn't for the fact that pretty much everything tries to kill you in Africa ~ this place would be perfect!
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What a sighting yes! You are so lucky. The closest I have come to such beautiful creature was on the golf course where it was in a tree high above the ground. Great shot!
Thank you, I was shocked that he stayed as long as he did
I would have been scared that it would jump my face!
that would have been rather scary I'm glad he didn't😂
Fabulous photos! I was only able to see and photograph a Great Horned Owl once, although I hear them frequently during the cold winter nights. That is so cool that this young one landed on your porch light and you got to see him up close!
I was rather surprised for many reasons being it was mid afternoon and on my front porch 😂 He was not fearful at all and just perched there until he was ready to take off.
What a funny owl.😃
Very nice shots !
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thank you