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Great Horned Owl
Adult--Upper parts mottled buff brown and black; under parts same colours, barred; ear-tufts two inches long; feet and legs feathered. Length-female, 22.00.
Breeding Range-Throughout the Eastern States.
The nest is a large structure of sticks, leaves, bark, and feathers, placed usually in a coniferous tree; very often a squirrel's, crow's, or hawk's nest is used. Sometimes the nest is in a hole in a tree, and rarely amongst rocks. 2 to 3 (Minot gives the limit as 4) white eggs are laid. Size-2.25 x 1.85.
These large feathered prowlers of the night roam through the darkened forests in search of birds and small animals, upon which they prey; neither do they scorn to enter the barn-yard, and many a chicken is taken to satisfy their own appetite or to feed their hungry owlets. Their dismal hooting is one of the most uncanny sounds heard during the night; to thoroughly appreciate it one should be alone in the woods, when it brings up by no means pleasing thoughts.
The nesting season begins towards the end of February.