The Great Horned Owl

I was fortunate to be able to photograph this Owl at the Sonora Desert Museum. This is a wonderful place to capture all kinds of wildlife but the Raptors are the most exciting part of the Museum. I try and get down there 3 or 4 times a year as there is always something new.

I made this shot with my 70-200 lens set at 169 mm, F8, ISO 640, 1/1600 of a second. Processed in LR 4.

Great Horned Owls are also known as hoot owls, cat owls or winged tigers. Great Horned Owls are cryptically colored so they blend with their surroundings while they rest. They have a rust-brown colored facial disk and white feathers on their chin and throat. Their body is a mottled grey and brown color above and barred on the belly. Great Horned Owls are one of several owl species that possess ear tufts. Scientists disagree as to the function of these ear tufts. Some suggest that the ear tufts serve as camouflage by breaking the contour of the owl’s head. Others suggest that the tufts serve some role in communication or recognition, enabling the owls to convey some kind of signals to one another. Experts agree though, that the ear tufts play no role in hearing.