Maggie

Great-Horned Owl Ambassador

Maggie
Sex:

Female

Arrival:

2003 / Nestling

Injury / Condition:

Severe head / Ear canal wounds

About Maggie

Maggie was found on the ground with severe head and ear canal wounds. They appeared to be talon marks, leading to speculation that a bird of prey, possibly a red-tailed hawk, had tried to take her from the nest and could not carry her. Maggie was transported to Liberty Wildlife as soon as she was found. Concern that her hearing, upon which these owls are vitally dependent, had been damaged, the medical decision was made that to ensure her survival, Maggie would be kept in captivity.

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.

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