Mother owl watches over newborn as they eat breakfast

Great horned owls are the largest owl species in North America. Although the snowy owl is taller, the great horned owl is the heaviest of the family. It is the most powerful in terms of talon grip strength and ability to carry off larger prey. It feeds primarily on rabbits, voles, and other rodents, but it also takes down birds, including other owls.

This mother owl has found a clump of trees in a remote spot on the edge of an Ontario forest. she laid her eggs in February, during an extremely cold time of year in Canada. But she is large enough and insulated well enough to keep her eggs warm for the 37 days that it takes for her babies to hatch. She and her mate will spend 42 days caring for and feeding the young until they are developed enough to fly from the nest.

These two babies are as fluffy and soft looking as a plush toy, but they will soon have flight feathers and wings strong enough to carry them. The parents bring them rabbit or other meals several times per day. The owlets will make a clumsy descent to the ground very soon and the parents will continue to feed them and to encourage them to fly. Within a day or two, they will be capable of lifting off the ground and finding a safer perch where they will watch and learn from the parents' hunting behaviour.

Owls are protective of their young and any predators will have a hard time if they try to eat the babies while the parents are nearby. Even mid-sized mammals would not be a match for an angry great horned owl's talons or razor sharp beak. As with most owls, they are capable of near soundless flight. Their feathers are specially designed to make no noise, enabling them to attack without warning.

These owls are one of the most iconic and beautiful of all the owl family. Their characteristic hoot and yellow eyes make them one of the most popular owls among nature lovers.