Hedwig
Great-Horned Owl Ambassador
Female
2001 / Adult
Imprinted
About Hedwig
Hedwig was found at a park in Queen Creek in 2001. It was obvious from her behavior of seeking food from people that she was an imprint who had escaped or been released. She was taken from the park by a kindhearted man who did not know much about birds of prey. He placed her in with his chickens until he discovered that great horned owls eat chickens! Following his call to Liberty Wildlife, Hedy, as she is affectionately called, was transported to Liberty. As an imprint, Hedy cannot be released because she will continue to seek out humans to feed her and she will not interact with her own species.
Description
The Great horned owls are one of largest owls and are well known for the feather tufts on top of their heads. These Owls are mottled grayish brown, with reddish brown faces and a white patch on the throat. Their overall color tone varies regionally from sooty to pale.
Habitat
Great horned owls live in woods, particularly young woods interspersed with fields or other open areas. They have a broad range of habitats including deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert, tundra edges, and tropical rainforest, as well as cities, orchards, suburbs, and parks.
Range
The great horned owl is found in North and South America from northern Alaska and Canada through Mexico to the tropical rainforest to Tierra del Fuego. It is one of the most widespread and common owls in North America.
Life Span
Great horned owls can live more than 12 years in the wild, with the oldest known wild great horned owl who reached 28 years old. Captive birds can easily live well into their 20’s and 30’s.
Prey / Food
The owl’s diet consists of a wide variety of prey from raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, mice, snakes, insects, geese and other birds to the occasional cat or small dog. One of its favorite foods is the skunk, a slow-moving crepuscular animal with a large white stripe down its back like a neon sign that says, “Eat me!”.
Babies / Nests
Great Horned owls lay 2 – 3 eggs in a clutch. Babies hatch after 30 – 37 days. Youngsters fledge (learn to fly) around 9 – 10 weeks. Great horned owls do not build nests and either take over abandoned nest of a hawk or other large birds or will simply lay the eggs in alcoves, tree hollows, abandoned buildings or even on the ground.
© 2024 Liberty Wildlife - Privacy Policy