September 2000
We found these two Great Horned Owls roosting during the day near the Pixaim River. I believe that the 2nd and 3rd photos are of a juvenile. Young Great Horned Owls will be looked after by their parents for up to 8 months after hatching.
They are the largest South American Owl, weighing about 1 kilo and about the size of a Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus) although they give the impression of being much bigger.
Great Horned Owls are found throughout most of North America, in northern South America and from north east Brazil, through central Brazil down to Argentina. The subspecies in Brazil is Bubo virginianus nacurutu which tends to be browner and longer billed.
There is an excellent web page at OwlPages, with more information at the University of Michigan site and some additional photos at the Berkeley Digital Library.
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