Quick answer
Great Horned Owls feed on mammals, birds and reptiles, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Forests, deserts, wetlands, and cities. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Key takeaway
Great Horned Owls feed on mammals, birds and reptiles, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Forests, deserts, wetlands, and cities. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Great Horned Owl diet overview
Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) are best summarised as Carnivore (mammals, birds, reptiles). Anatomy and habitat (Forests, deserts, wetlands, and cities) decide whether they hunt, graze, filter, scavenge, or mix strategies across the year.
How great horned owls find food
Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel. Young animals may eat different items or receive food from parents.
Great Horned Owl role in the food web
As predators or scavengers, great horned owls move nutrients and influence prey or vegetation.
Feeding and human conflict
Never feed wild great horned owls. Habituation raises injury risk and can lead to lethal management. Captive diets must match species needs, not generic pet food rules.
A formidable night hunter
The great horned owl is one of the most powerful birds of prey in the Americas, with a grip strong enough to crush the spine of its prey. It hunts at night using exceptional hearing and large, light-gathering eyes, gliding silently on soft-edged feathers that muffle the sound of its wings so prey never hears it coming.
Diet and fearless appetite
Few predators have such a varied diet. Great horned owls take rabbits, rodents, and other mammals, as well as birds up to the size of geese and other owls and hawks. They are one of the only animals that regularly hunt skunks, apparently untroubled by the spray, and they will also eat reptiles, amphibians, and large insects.
Sources
Great Horned Owl FAQs
What do great horned owls eat?
Great Horned Owls feed on mammals, birds and reptiles, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Forests, deserts, wetlands, and cities. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
What is the scientific name of the great horned owl?
Bubo virginianus — used in research and conservation listings for great horned owls.
Where do great horned owls live?
They are associated with Forests, deserts, wetlands, and cities. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of great horned owls?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.