🌿Native Nature

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Aves ›Order: Strigiformes ›Family: Strigidae ›Genus: Bubo

About

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air") or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice and voles, although it freely hunts...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Great Horned Owl?
The scientific name of Great Horned Owl is Bubo virginianus.
What is the conservation status of Great Horned Owl?
The Great Horned Owl has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the class Aves.
What order does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the order Strigiformes.
What family does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the family Strigidae.
What genus does Great Horned Owl belong to?
Great Horned Owl belongs to the genus Bubo.

In the News

So Many Birds, So Little Time (or Bands)

The morning began just before sunrise with competing Great Horned Owls calling back and forth across Oliver Reservoir in the far southwest of the Nebraska panhandle. It was the first chilly fall-like...

Audubon · 9/23/2026

10 Fun Facts About the Great Horned Owl

With their intense, feline gaze, barred bodies, and fierce hunting skills, the Great Horned Owl has been called the “tiger of the air.” North America's most widespread owl, this species is also...

Audubon · 7/21/2026