Strigidae Skull Replica or Great Horned Owl measures 2.5 inches. Great Horned Owl Negative Footprint & skull are both museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA.

The Strigidae or Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas.

Strigidae or Great horned owl is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.

Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice, and voles, although it freely hunts any animal it can overtake, including rodents and other small mammals, larger mid-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

The Strigidae or Great horned owl is the heaviest extant owl in Central and South America and is the second-heaviest owl in North America, after the closely related but very different-looking snowy owl. It is heavily built, with a barrel-shaped body, a large head, and broad wings.

Like most owls, the Great horned owl makes great use of secrecy and stealth. Due to its natural-colored plumage, it is well camouflaged both while active at night and while roosting during the day.

During the daytime it roosts usually in large trees (including snags & large hollows but usually thick branches) but may occasionally be in crevices or small caves in rocks or in dense shrubbery.

Pine and other coniferous trees may be preferred where available since they are particularly dense and provide cover throughout the year. Typically, males have a favorite roosting site not far from the nest, sometimes used over successive years.

While roosting, Strigidae or Great horned owls may rest in the “tall-thin” position, where they sit as erect and hold themselves as slim as is possible.

This kind of posture is well known as a further method of camouflage for other owls, like long-eared owls or great grey owls, especially if humans or other potential mammalian carnivores approach them.

Outside of the nesting season, great horned owls may roost wherever their foraging path ends at dawn. Generally great horned owls are active at night, although in some areas they may be active in the late afternoon or early morning.

At dusk, the owl utters a few calls before flying to a more open sing-post, such as a large bare branch or large rocks to deliver song. Normally several perches are used to mark occupied territory or to attract a female.

Despite its camouflage and cryptic locations, this species can still sometimes be spotted on its daytime roosts, especially by American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos).

Since Strigidae or Great horned owls are, next to red-tailed hawks, are perhaps the main predator of crows and their young, crows sometimes congregate from considerable distances to mob owls and caw angrily at them for hours on end. When the owls try to fly off to avoid this harassment, they are often followed by the corvids.

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