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Expedition 🇺🇸 United States

Great Horned Owl in United States

America's winged tiger — ear tufts, amber eyes, and a grip that can crush prey at 200 kg per square cm.

Great Horned Owl

The species

The great horned owl is the apex predator of American night — a heavy, broad-winged hunter with fierce ear tufts and deep hooting calls that carry across suburban woods and prairie edge. It eats almost anything: rabbits, skunks, other owls, even geese.

Habitat in United States

Great horned owls range across the entire United States in forest, woodland, desert scrub, and suburban areas with large trees. They nest in tree cavities, stick nests, cliff ledges, and even building alcoves — wherever a sheltered platform supports their young.

Where to spot one

  • Central Park

    New York City

    Urban ponds for mallards, pigeons on the paths, and sparrows in every shrub — a compact starter loop in Manhattan.

  • Golden Gate Park

    San Francisco

    Lakes, meadows, and tree cover where common birds and park wildlife turn an afternoon stroll into a discovery session.

  • Suburban Park Systems

    Nationwide

    Local green spaces across the US — pond edges, playground perimeters, and dog-walking trails where the everyday species gather.

  • Neighbourhood Streets

    Nationwide

    Front gardens, fence lines, and café patios — where house cats watch from walls and sparrows squabble over crumbs.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Great horned owls are Least Concern and widespread across North America. They adapt well to suburban habitat but face risks from rodenticide poisoning and vehicle collisions.

Keep exploring

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