Portrait of a pair of great horned owls

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  • čas přidán 17. 12. 2021
  • This video is a collection of some of our favorite great horned owl moments. Lots of hooting and duetting, and some fabulous daylight footage of both the male (with his deep hoot) and the female (much larger, but with a higher-pitched voice).
    We've included a funny clip of Mrs Owl making crazy faces at the camera. And, finally, we have another great transformer-style stretch from Mr Owl as he readies himself to fly off from his perch in the live oak.
    For more great critter videos and photos please visit texasbackyardwildlife.com.
    #greathornedowl #backyardwildlife #texaswildlife

Komentáře • 134

  • @user-yl7py6dr8o
    @user-yl7py6dr8o Před 5 měsíci +2

    I love this male great horned owl

  • @jmnimahelr
    @jmnimahelr Před 2 lety +44

    Just my opinion, but owls are the most beautiful and intriguing raptors. Their plumage and how it adorns their bodies, silent flight, those large beautiful eyes that capture the slightest movement, and their sometimes comical actions keep me fascinated. I love your footage. Thank you.

    • @jenniferloving9054
      @jenniferloving9054 Před 2 lety +3

      They're my favorite of all the birds of prey!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +7

      Thank you so much, Jan. We feel very lucky to be able to see this pair of owls in close-up when they sit in front of one of our cameras. They really are a treat to watch.

    • @Torgo1969
      @Torgo1969 Před 2 lety +6

      They really are something special.

    • @user-yl7py6dr8o
      @user-yl7py6dr8o Před 5 měsíci

      Have you seen them this year i love the male great horned owl he's my favorite 😁😄😃😍​@TexasBackyardWildlife

  • @defan2105
    @defan2105 Před 2 lety +11

    the "Crazy Face" could be she is in the perfect position to see a reflection of herself. Just a thought

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, that's exactly what's going on, DEfan. The cameras have big glass globes over them and she's seeing her reflection.

  • @snowcrane3337
    @snowcrane3337 Před rokem +2

    Thank you....gorgeous owls!

  • @mayonnaiseeee
    @mayonnaiseeee Před 20 dny +1

    Beautiful creatures

  • @callunas
    @callunas Před 2 lety +15

    They look so cat-like!

    • @Torgo1969
      @Torgo1969 Před 2 lety +4

      Yes. Looking at an Owl is like looking at a cat or a person.

    • @usmale4915
      @usmale4915 Před 2 lety +1

      There is the famous little tale called: THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT! I did see a video here on CZcams!

  • @jamesbickford4769
    @jamesbickford4769 Před 2 lety +3

    Beautiful Animal. One of my favorite birds of pray. The reason that they Bob and move their head around is because they are unable to move their eyeballs within their eye sockets. Another words they are unable to shift their eyes from side to side or up and down like we can. They have to move their entire head to change their field of view. They also do that to allow for depth perception to size up their prays actual size and location. That’s for posting such a great video.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      Well, good point. We have read that they can't move their eyes but this didn't occur to us.

  • @bobbymartin4446
    @bobbymartin4446 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Such beautiful creatures !! 🦉🦉

  • @BumbleBeeOnTheBeach
    @BumbleBeeOnTheBeach Před měsícem +1

    @Texas Backyard Wildlife: Thank you for paying attention to and respecting Mother Nature's residents with the utmost discretion, sharing the priceless, and not covering the factual background chirping with unneeded music. The little blue planet's treasures are for those with eyes to admire and ears to listen to their tale with gratitude.
    Cheers ; )🍀

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před měsícem

      Thank you, BumbleBee! We did use music for our first few videos about 10 years ago but quickly realized that wasn't our style and actually was interfering with the experience of watching the videos. So we stopped.

  • @BabyBalrog_RJTC
    @BabyBalrog_RJTC Před 5 měsíci +2

    They're so beautiful

  • @virginiawilkinson4006
    @virginiawilkinson4006 Před rokem +2

    Such a beautiful couple !

  • @KimberlyLauritzen
    @KimberlyLauritzen Před rokem +2

    I'm just in awe ... watching this is the best therapy!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před rokem

      We were watching a great horned owl on his (we think it's a "he") perch today. It was raining, and he was soaked. He looked a bit miserable, but he was still a bird of great beauty.

  • @bobbybrooks4826
    @bobbybrooks4826 Před 2 lety +3

    They were literally mimicing each other

  • @miriambertram2448
    @miriambertram2448 Před 2 lety +2

    Txs again!

  • @BurtonSKnowles
    @BurtonSKnowles Před 5 měsíci +2

    Beautiful footage! Thank you for posting!

  • @judycook4314
    @judycook4314 Před 2 lety +2

    Gorgeous!!

  • @evangelinedouros254
    @evangelinedouros254 Před 2 lety +6

    He's so adorable 😍

  • @edwine.newman2137
    @edwine.newman2137 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I live in rural county between Johnstown and Sunbury , Ohio. I have a wooded lot about 10 acres of woodland that houses a couple of Great Horned Owls. I don’t hear them too much in the summer time , only a couple of sightings. In the winter at night they seem to be more vocal.
    My first sighting was about six years ago on a foggy March morning both were perched on a big dead ash tree.
    Such a beautiful raptor.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 4 měsíci

      We envy you. We've only heard the hoot of a great horned owl once or twice in the past year. They seem to have largely gone. They are indeed beautiful, and we miss them.

  • @fisherbird1739
    @fisherbird1739 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Thanks, beautiful footage and I love GHOs.

  • @MakeupMobster
    @MakeupMobster Před 2 lety +4

    He’s beautiful. I live on Long Island and we don’t have cool wildlife here but we do have owls apparently. One night while sitting on my front porch I heard the hooting. I thought my neighbor was messing with me. I never actually heard an owl in person. Finally after hearing it a few nights in a row I decided to inspect so I walk across the street and out of the tree comes this HUGE owl! I have never seen one in my life. They’re just gorgeous creatures and I love the hooting.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      Great horned owl hooting is lovely. Such a beautiful sound. And they're big birds, so that's probably what you saw across the street, a great horned owl. Nice to have them in the neighborhood.

  • @lindaburnette675
    @lindaburnette675 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Great horned owls are absolutely beautiful...amazingly raptors. I sit on my deck some evenings and hope I hear them.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 měsíci

      We are hardly seeing them these days, which is sad, but during the eclipse this afternoon one flew across the backyard. Very exciting.

  • @sandra.helianthus
    @sandra.helianthus Před 2 lety +4

    absolutely gorgeous, wow

  • @Puff_Chady
    @Puff_Chady Před 2 lety +2

    I love these Owls.

  • @mpetry912
    @mpetry912 Před rokem +2

    just beautiful ! Very clear and good color ! thank you.

  • @marionzimelka1069
    @marionzimelka1069 Před 2 lety +19

    These are beautiful shots, as always from you, many thanks to Texas from Germany 😊

  • @angstymedusa
    @angstymedusa Před 2 lety +3

    They're so alert and beautiful.

  • @yourenough3
    @yourenough3 Před rokem +2

    beautiful ❤️

  • @Foomba
    @Foomba Před 2 lety +4

    I hear one outside my bedroom window a handful of times a year. I have never seen him or her and wonder where they are the rest of the time. Always a treat to hear.

  • @claymac7895
    @claymac7895 Před rokem +1

    Such incredible colors.

  • @djryan8944
    @djryan8944 Před 2 lety +2

    Another great video. Thanks!

  • @MadMatty01
    @MadMatty01 Před 2 lety +8

    Beautiful birds! I really loved how they probably heard the camera moving at 1:10 and stared at it for a while

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +5

      Yes, that's absolutely right. They can hear the camera move and that little sound, combined with the strangeness of being able to see their own reflections in the glass, really gets their attention.

  • @Torgo1969
    @Torgo1969 Před 2 lety +4

    Bow Down to the Owl! I visited my Owls at the local nature center today and the male GHO was hooty for a minute or 2. Owl Therapy FTW.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      It's a soothing sound - most of the time. Last year, the male would sit on the nest sometimes for hours hooting for his mate. Made for a very rough night, sleep-wise. I always felt sorry for him when she didn't show up.

    • @Torgo1969
      @Torgo1969 Před 2 lety

      @@TexasBackyardWildlife Sometimes I play videos of GHOs hooting to each other when I sleep at night, LOL. Makes me think I'm sleeping in the woods. I lived in Ithaca NY for 16 years (home of the huge Cornell Ornithology Lab) but I was not into Owls back then. Kicking myself. I could have been a special Owl veterinarian.

  • @merveilleuxetmagique
    @merveilleuxetmagique Před 2 lety +3

    You are right sir, they are absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing

  • @harvardkarbodie
    @harvardkarbodie Před 2 lety +9

    Your videos are priceless. Thank you.

  • @alanatolstad4824
    @alanatolstad4824 Před 2 lety +2

    On a rare occasion I hear an owl in my neighborhood, or if I'm out on a Hospice call after dusk in another part of town.

  • @catsara9114
    @catsara9114 Před 2 lety +11

    This is stunning footage! And the female owl trying to focus on your camera is absolutely priceless 🤣

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +4

      Poor Mrs O... She can no doubt see her reflection and she's very puzzled by it. It's very funny though.

  • @shereesmazik5030
    @shereesmazik5030 Před rokem +2

    Handsome boy

  • @user-vn7pn1pc3w
    @user-vn7pn1pc3w Před 2 lety +5

    Я восхищена красотой этих птиц !

  • @ktinxx
    @ktinxx Před 2 lety +9

    I can't get over the fact that the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) has an even more beautiful plumage than our European Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo), the most striking difference being the bright yellow eyes of the former and the deep orange ones of the latter.
    Amazing birds, both of them, and you did an excellent job in capturing B. virginianus' beauty! Greetings from Germany!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +4

      Greetings to you, from Texas. Yes, these really are beautiful birds. We're lucky to be able to watch them and really see all their colors. Their eyes are amazing.

    • @Torgo1969
      @Torgo1969 Před 2 lety +4

      We love the Eagle-Owl named Yoll on youtube. But our GHOs here in the US are beautiful and remind me of calico cats.

  • @Austin8thGenTexan
    @Austin8thGenTexan Před 2 lety +12

    Thanks for filming this and making this footage possible! Owls are so much more than cartoon stereotypes - am actually learning their calls. Hoo knows what's next ? 🦉

  • @gandalfbutfancier5216
    @gandalfbutfancier5216 Před 2 lety +3

    Omg they're GORGEOUS

  • @ghenkhoash2440
    @ghenkhoash2440 Před rokem +2

    Thank you. Very nice footage. Such a beautiful bird. I think she sees her own image in your camera.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před rokem

      Yes, I think she does. The camera has a flat glass front and it's probably like a mirror.

  • @carolynnunes3922
    @carolynnunes3922 Před 2 lety +1

    They are a beautiful pair!
    I watch Lady Hawk’s channel, and follow the bald eagle pair in SWFL, M 15 and Harriet. The reason I am bringing them up is because they had a second nest that has been appropriated by a GHO pair, and they have been performing night strikes on my beloved M, knocking him off of his perch!
    Both couples are incubating eggs, and are extremely territorial right now, snd I understand that! I just wish more folks would come here and see these two!
    Perhaps then they wouldn’t be so quick to hate on the GHO’s!
    Great footage! I am grateful for your channel!
    God bless you! May He put His hedge of protection around your property, and all the critters that well within it!
    Merry Christmas!
    God bless us, every one!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Poor M. It's a very rough life, isn't it? All of these animals have to be constantly alert to danger and they constantly strive to live and succeed. It's very hard. We see tragedies all the time. We will take a look at Lady Hawk's channel. Thanks for the tip, Carolyn.

  • @tierliebe9891
    @tierliebe9891 Před 2 lety +2

    What a beauty of an owl and his song is delicate that differs from the female in her song and feathers How much the world of nature is fascinating 👌

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, his hoot is less quavery than hers. She's larger, but she has a higher-pitched voice.

  • @einsamerwolf6192
    @einsamerwolf6192 Před 2 lety +3

    Beautiful American Wildlife 👍

  • @drscopeify
    @drscopeify Před 2 lety +3

    This is the best video I have seen yet, such great quality to your footage. I get visited by them once in a while in Seattle, they tend to stay in the area for a few days and move on. I have heard them duet a few times but they are usually up in the trees so I can't spot them but I have made a few pretty great sound recordings. They can be very loud especially if they land on the roof I think while scanning the property but they are usually up in the trees so it's not too loud but can clearly hear them inside the house.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      Thank you very much, DrScopeify! We use standard security cameras to capture all our video and while it's not up to David Attenborough standards, they do a surprisingly good job sometimes.
      We love to hear the owls duetting. We haven't seen the female this year. We think the male is now on his own, which is sad.

  • @denise0223
    @denise0223 Před 2 lety +4

    Thank you - these 2 GHO’s are perfect!! Perhaps the female spotted her reflection in the big camera lens and gave us a ‘crazy eye look’. They certainly are breathtaking and we enjoy your commentary so much!! Thank you for sharing!!!! Denise & Ben from MA

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, you're right. The cameras have big glass domes over them and the owls definitely can see their reflections in the glass. They are quite puzzled by what they see, I think (although maybe Mrs O was secretly checking to make sure her ear feathers were tidy).

  • @Rob_2020
    @Rob_2020 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Beautiful birds 😍😍🥰🥰

  • @usmale4915
    @usmale4915 Před 2 lety +3

    She is absolutely beautiful. And so curious about the camera, I thought that was funny. The male is quite handsome. Beautiful video and I sincerely thank you for sharing!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +2

      We think she can see her reflection in the glass camera globe. She does look quite intrigued by what she's seeing, doesn't she?

  •  Před 2 lety +3

    They are wonderful.

  • @ttenkrut
    @ttenkrut Před rokem +1

    Great upload

  • @hadassah2998
    @hadassah2998 Před 2 lety +4

    This was a beautiful video. I love those eyes and how they camouflage with the tree.

  • @vitalic_drms
    @vitalic_drms Před 2 lety +2

    hoohoo hoohoohoo
    hoo hoo

  • @trainrover
    @trainrover Před 2 lety +2

    Funny, your gushing about their awareness of the camera, because your introductory scene featured their BOTH taking several fractions of a second to clue in on your lens having just momentarily revolved clockwise...surprised that those cute reactions hadn' t caught your attention.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      Thanks trainrover... We'll have to take another look at the video. We missed that.

  • @bobbybrooks4826
    @bobbybrooks4826 Před 2 lety +2

    Beautiful bird

  • @BirdSongsFromAroundTheWorld

    Wonderful seeing and listening to these beautiful Great horned owls. Great footage.

  • @cindyjohnson6303
    @cindyjohnson6303 Před 2 lety +3

    They are so beautiful ! Thank you for the video.

  • @JStoja
    @JStoja Před 2 lety +3

    Incredibly beautiful birds. Thanks for the video.

  • @cameratrapcodger
    @cameratrapcodger Před 2 lety +2

    Absolutely splendid video and first class commentary.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      Thank you! We really appreciate your taking the time to tell us you enjoyed it.

  • @yussss4639
    @yussss4639 Před 2 lety +2

    1:08 They both looked when the camera moved lol

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, they did. They can hear the little motor in the camera if we zoom or move it slightly. They have very good hearing.

  • @kati8359
    @kati8359 Před 2 lety +1

    Such beautiful and amusing characters! Thank you for posting

  • @thedarkcranberry
    @thedarkcranberry Před 2 lety +1

    Amazing. Those cameras must be really nice.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety

      They're Dahua security cameras. Not really the best cameras in the world - and they're not built for filming wildlife - but they work really well for what we're doing.

  • @user-yk8vs5qd2i
    @user-yk8vs5qd2i Před 2 lety +2

    Very beautiful & posh great horned owls🦉🦉🦉 💗💗💗💗💗singing uhuhuhu

  • @rolindowndriver
    @rolindowndriver Před 2 lety +2

    Wow, amazing footage!

  • @grantcritchfieldstexastrai7072

    Absolutely outstanding footage & editing. GHO's are incredible animals. Thanks for posting.

  • @masguapoako
    @masguapoako Před 2 lety +3

    *I started looking for owls this year, so far I've seen, photography and videoed Great Horned Owl and Owlet 🦉🦉🦉 , Barn Owl and Owlet 🦉🦉🦉, Long Eared Owl , Short Eared Owl and Burrowing Owl*

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      We mainly have great horned owls and screech owls, though we once saw a barred owl.

    • @shereesmazik5030
      @shereesmazik5030 Před rokem +1

      Wow , you are doing well with such a elusive bird . The hardest two seem to be the Snowy Owl and the Great Grey . The tundra and sometimes Eastern US for the Snowy and Minnesota for the Grey .

    • @masguapoako
      @masguapoako Před rokem +1

      Not sure if Snowy owl will ever go south to California. We have Great Grey but I haven't seen one, but I'm pretty sure it has seen me

    • @shereesmazik5030
      @shereesmazik5030 Před rokem +1

      @@masguapoako No , I agree a Snowy Owl sighting in California would be rare . You are fortunate to be near a Great Grey Owl . They are strangely not that afraid of humans , and will land on nature photographer’s lens .

  • @TerkaBuszptaki2021
    @TerkaBuszptaki2021 Před 2 lety +2

    👍🦉🦉

  • @shereesmazik5030
    @shereesmazik5030 Před rokem +2

    Owls sometime poop before they fly .

  • @k.s.obrien9459
    @k.s.obrien9459 Před rokem +2

    I love this channel, thanks for the wonderful videos! Can you indicate where this is in Texas?East Texas? Thx!!

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před rokem

      We live in south-west Austin. Inside the city limits. Near Oak Hill. We have a 5-acre lot, and there is still enough undeveloped land around that the wildlife haven't deserted us (yet).

  • @sierrachoco5271
    @sierrachoco5271 Před 2 lety +1

    You should probably name the female "crazy face", once again a great video. Best wishes from upstate N.Y.!

  • @hikerJohn
    @hikerJohn Před 2 lety +2

    The camera moves at times does it not? They both fixated on it when it moved at 1:08 but she fixated longer. I think the head movement is for better depth perception . . . I do it myself at times.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, Hiker John - they can hear the tiny motor in the camera when we pan or zoom. The camera itself doesn't move, but they know something strange is going on. And yes again, we think you're right about the head movements.

  • @mychannelafc
    @mychannelafc Před 2 lety +2

    Are these the same pair from last year? I remember something about them not using your nest?

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, the same pair. The male is back this year but we haven't seen the female yet. The male was very interested in the nest last year but the female vetoed it. He would stand there for hours at night with a rat, hoping to lure her in and persuade her that it would be a good place for a family, but she wasn't buying it.

  • @shereesmazik5030
    @shereesmazik5030 Před rokem +2

    Can different species of owls communicate ?

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před rokem +1

      You mean, can barn owls talk to great horned owls (etc)? We don't know - but it seems likely that they can understand some of each other's hoots and calls. We see cross-species communication all the time: If a fox barks, the raccoons and skunks take cover (it means "coyote, danger"; same thing if a deer huffs and stamps, the raccoons head for the trees and the foxes hide. No one likes the sound of a fox or raccoon fight. Skunk fights though are different - the other critters ignore them (or giggle). We sometimes feel that we also can understand some of what the animals are saying.

  • @axbr9380
    @axbr9380 Před rokem +2

    Yes beautiful. But if your actions alter the behavior of the animal, there is something wrong. It is not normal for the bird to have to wonder about some weird eye observing.

    • @TexasBackyardWildlife
      @TexasBackyardWildlife  Před rokem +4

      The owls are living in an urban setting, with buildings and windows and cars, etc. We humans do a lot of awful things that upset and damage animals, but I think the camera probably isn't much of an additional worry for them.