³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

Imagine you are walking through a woodland on a crispy autumn evening: the leaves are crunching under your boots, there is a chill in the air, and the sun has just begun to set. You hear a distinctive call in the distance that goes something like hoo hoo hoo-hoo-hoo hooooo. 

What might be making that sound? None other than the owl of storybooks, the Great Horned Owl.

With its tufts of feathers that resemble ears and its large stature, the Great Horned Owl is perhaps the most iconic owl species of Southern California and across the Americas. These very large owls can occupy all sorts of habitats including woodlands, open grasslands, riparian areas, and even thrive in our urban environment, making them the most commonly sighted owl in the city. They are nocturnal predators, doing the bulk of their hunting at nighttime, but if you are hoping to catch an owl on the hunt, they also hunt at dawn and dusk. They are generalist predators, catching prey that range in size from large ones such as other raptors to smaller ones such as scorpions and frogs. Their favorite meals, however, are small mammals like rabbits, rodents, and gophers. Like other owl species, they are able to detect sound waves that bounce off their disk-shaped face with their asymmetrical ears, allowing them to pinpoint the exact location of the pattering footsteps of a mouse.  

Great Horned Owls’ courtship rituals begin much earlier in the year than other bird species. When autumn comes around, males will begin establishing their own territories before calling out in search of mates. Females who are attracted to their calls will respond. Then, if the couple pairs off, they will engage in an elaborate dance that involves calls, tail-bouncing and head-jerking.

Once paired off, the owls mate for life. Great Horned Owls infamously will steal nests of other birds rather than make their own. They will often scout a large nest, such as a hawk or raven nest, then take over. After laying eggs, incubation can last for 30 to 37 days. In about 2 –5 weeks, the owlets will begin to stray away from the nest and after about 10 weeks, they will fledge. During this time, they take a lot of notes from their parents on how to hunt and survive.  

Because of their incredible adaptability, Great Horned Owls are spread across continents. However, they still face threats to their well-being, especially in urban environments like Los Angeles. Increasing urbanization and shrinking habitats means that territorial males who need their own range are experiencing more intraspecies conflict. The continued use of rodenticide poisons owls and their young. Building and car strikes continue to pose a threat. Despite these challenges, there are still some things you can do to help protect owls in your area, like avoiding the use of rodenticides. If you want to add Great Horned Owls to your life list, a great tip to find them is to look at the tops of tall trees such as Sycamores, Pines, or Eucalyptus during dawn and dusk. And of course, listen for their iconic call. 

If you do choose to go owling to see these magnificent creatures, remember to follow some ethical owling tips to support our feathered friends: 

• Avoid playback of bird calls, especially during breeding season.

• Do not shine lights on the owls. 

• Do not use rodenticides.

• Turn off outdoor lights when not in use.  

• Keep a good distance from owls, especially from nests. 

Help continue to protect these wonderful and iconic raptors this Owl-o-Ween!

This articles was written as part of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center at Debs Park's Fall 2025 Happy Owl-o-Ween newsletter.