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Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Bird · family Strigidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Great Horned Owl
Photo: brendan.lally, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
50 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
28 years[4]

The Great Horned Owl is a bird in the owl family Strigidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it as Secure worldwide[2], and it is native to 50 US states and territories, from Alaska to Florida[3].

Conservation status

Great Horned Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) around the world and N5 (Secure) in the United States, which means its numbers are not a current concern for that group[2][6]. The IUCN Red List places it in Least concern[7]. It is still protected as a migratory bird under federal law[8], and its trade between countries is controlled under CITES Appendix II[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II

Where Great Horned Owl lives

NatureServe lists the Great Horned Owl as native in 50 US states and territories, including Alaska, Texas, Maine, California and the District of Columbia[3]. On GBIF, people have reported it most often in California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Florida, which reflects where people look, not how many owls live there[10].

Alaska: native, state rank S5AKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S3VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S5IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S4NVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4B,S4NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S4UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S4B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S2DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (50 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS2Imperiled
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS4Apparently Secure
VermontS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

This owl uses many kinds of places, including hardwood, conifer and mixed forests and woodlands, shrubland, desert, cliffs, riparian areas (land along streams and rivers) and forested wetlands[12]. It can live in wet or dry country, and in leafy or evergreen woods[13]. For nesting it often takes over old nests built by other birds such as hawks or crows, and it may also use tree holes, rock ledges, caves, barns or man-made platforms[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Great Horned Owl is a carnivore, which means it eats other animals[14]. It mostly hunts mammals and birds[15], and one estimate puts its diet at 90% warm-blooded vertebrates and 10% invertebrates[16]. A typical adult is about 56 cm (22 in) long[17]. A typical adult weighs about 4 lb[18]. A typical clutch size is 3[19]. Incubation lasts about 27 days[20]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 29 years[21], and the oldest known banded wild bird was at least 28 years 10 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 56 cm (22 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 1.8 kg (4 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 29 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 28 years 10 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 3
Gestation or incubation[20] 27 days
Female maturity[22] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[14] Carnivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 90% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Great Horned Owl is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[24]. Most of these owls stay in one area all year or move only short distances, though this can differ between populations[23]. Some northern birds, mostly young ones, travel south in winter, but most banded owls are found again within 80 km of where they were banded[25]. On GBIF, the most US records come from January, April and May, which shows when people report owls, not how many there are[26].

January: 143,266 recordsJanFebruary: 126,769 recordsFebMarch: 141,642 recordsMarApril: 165,617 recordsAprMay: 144,888 recordsMayJune: 64,104 recordsJunJuly: 55,443 recordsJulAugust: 75,786 recordsAugSeptember: 110,097 recordsSepOctober: 110,127 recordsOctNovember: 95,237 recordsNovDecember: 129,879 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January143,266
February126,769
March141,642
April165,617
May144,888
June64,104
July55,443
August75,786
September110,097
October110,127
November95,237
December129,879

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Great Horned Owl as present in 238 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 214 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Great Horned Owl endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it as Secure[2]. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].
Where does the Great Horned Owl live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 50 US states and territories[3]. It uses forests, woodlands, shrubland, desert, cliffs and wetlands[12].
What does the Great Horned Owl eat?
It is a carnivore[14] that eats mostly mammals and birds[15]. One estimate puts its diet at 90% warm-blooded vertebrates and 10% invertebrates[16].
How big is a Great Horned Owl?
A typical adult is about 56 cm (22 in) long[17]. A typical adult weighs about 4 lb[18].
How long does a Great Horned Owl live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 29 years[21]. The oldest known banded wild owl was at least 28 years 10 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Great Horned Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Great Horned Owl: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Great Horned Owl as native in 50 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Great Horned Owl from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 28 years 10 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is a bird in the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Great Horned Owl is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Great Horned Owl: California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Great Horned Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Great Horned Owl: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Desert, Cliff, Riparian, Forested wetland. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Great Horned Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Great Horned Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 90% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 56 cm (22 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 1.8 kg (4 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 27 days. AnAge
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 29 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Great Horned Owl: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Great Horned Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Great Horned Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Great Horned Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: brendan.lally, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.