The Great Horned Owl is a nocturnal, or night-active, bird, and spends its nights hunting for food. For the most part, the owl will sit in treetops, quietly listening for its prey. Slowly turning its head, the owl can discern the whereabouts of an unsuspecting tasty morsel. The owl s fantastic night-vision aids in seeing its prey. Termed Silent Hunters , the owls swoop down from their roosts on quiet wings and snatch up thier prey with thier great talons.
Breeding also takes place at night.
During the day, the owls tend to roost in thick tops of evergreen trees, close to the trunk, or possibly a cave. On some occasions, the owl will spend its day under brush cover on the ground, but as a rule, prefer to stay high up in trees. The mating ritual can start as early as Januray or February, with nesting and egg-laying usually in March. The male Great Horned Owl has been seen displaying a courtship dance , and if a mutual attraction is shared by the female, she, too will join in the dance . Eggs have been known to be laid as early as January or February, but generally in Wisconsin, it comes a bit later in the winter.