Utah Field Guide: Great Horned Owl

While driving around with spencer on his hunt, we ran into this Great Horned owl perched in a tree.

The great horned owl, also known as the tiger owl or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range. Its diet consists of small mammals, including skunks, various birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

Like other owls, these birds have an incredible digestive system. They sometimes swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate pellets composed of bone, fur, and the other unwanted parts of their meal. Owls are efficient nighttime hunters that strike from above, and use their powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than themselves. For more on the Great Horned Owl or any other critter found in the wilds. Check out our Utah Field Guide on our outdoors page at KSLTV.com.

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