Large talons assist the owl in catching and clutching its prey. The call of the Great Horned Owl is quite distinctive. More than likely, you will hear the bird before you see it, if you see it at all. There are almost sixty different species of owls closely related to Bubo virginianus . Because Owls are birds of prey, or otherwise known as raptors , they are also distantly related to hawks, eagles, falcons, and the now-extinct caracara.
Raptors are excellent hunters, with accute hearing and incredible vision.
All raptors share the long claws known as talons , and specially-designed hooked beaks, perfect for tearing flesh. Bubo virginianus has adapted to many different climatic regions well. Subspecies of the Horned Owl cover regions ranging from Alaska to lower California, and across the U.S. Great Horned Owls do not migrate as a general rule, at least not in the sense most accustomed to the term. Because the owls tend to favor heavily wooded areas, finding food is not a major problem most of the year. Occasionally, owls will travel to other areas to find food in winter months, but on the whole.