great horned owl

American  

noun

1. a large, brown-speckled owl, Bubo virginianus, common in the Western Hemisphere, having prominent ear tufts.

---

Etymology

Origin of great horned owl

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

The bird, whose head was peeping out, was a great horned owl, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

A great horned owl found itself in a seriously sticky situation after becoming stuck in a glue trap in Orange County, rendering it both flightless and food-less.

From Los Angeles Times

Renamed Wind Wolves, it is now the largest privately owned nature preserve on the West Coast, where endangered kit foxes and leopard lizards thrive along with elk, blacktail deer, great horned owls and bobcats.

From Los Angeles Times

The troopers take care to avoid the nesting great horned owls that return each year and “swoop” patrolling officers if they shine lights toward their perches.

From Los Angeles Times

In spring, find western bluebirds, great horned owls and tree frogs, chipmunks, buttercups, warblers and three species of hummingbirds.

From Seattle Times