© 2008 Kelly Singleton ...Science Art-Birds

Title: Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Artist: Kelly Singleton (for further information, click on the artist's name)
Image size: 7" x 5"
Media: acrylic
Date: 2008
Havre de Grace, MD


The artist notes: "The Great Horned Owl's ear tufts are large and set far apart on the head. Their ears are located on the sides of the head, but are offset, not symmetrical like human ears. The openings of the ears are tilted in SLIGHTLY different directions-- often the right ear is longer and set higher up on the skull. Plus, owls have soft feathers that surround the openings, which they can spread to make a funnel for sound to enter the ear. This enables the owl to use triangulation to pinpoint the source of a sound, when the prey can not be seen. By tilting or moving their head until the sound is of equal volume in each ear, the owl can pinpoint the direction and distance of ITS SOURCE."

What about their ability to hear other owls? When broadcasting the calls of Great Horned Owls, researchers in Pennsylvania were most successful in detecting Great Horneds during a waxing moon, on calm January nights without precipitation, between midnight and 6 AM. Taking these variables into consideration MAY increase the accuracy of population surveys. Accurate surveys are particularly important because these widespread birds can pose a threat to endangered species.