A great horned owl has feather tufts on its head that look like horns. The feather tufts on a great horned owl's head are not ears. They are tufts of feathers. Its feet are covered with feathers. Female great horned owls are larger than males. A great horned owl has large yellow eyes.

A great horned owl hunts mostly at night. An owl turns its head to look around, because its eyes do not move in the sockets. An owl can turn its head about 270 degrees, which is three-quarters of the way around a circle.

A great horned owl watches from a high perch, then swoops down to catch its food. Great horned owls eat rabbits, rats and squirrels. A great horned owl swallows small prey whole. It coughs up pellets of the bones and fur it cannot digest.

Great horned owls do not build their own nests. They use nests built by other large birds, such as hawks and crows. Great horned owls start nesting early, in winter. A great horned owl usually lays two or three eggs. While the female sits on the eggs, the male brings her food. Both parents help feed the young owls.

Great horned owls live across most of North America. They live in many places, including the countryside and cities. The hoot of a great horned owl is low and deep. You can hear great horned owls hooting at night in winter.

Words to know

• sockets: eye holes
• prey: hunted animals
• pellets: small lumps
• perch: a high seat