Are There Great Horned Owls in Alabama?

Yes, Great Horned Owls are permanent residents across Alabama, found in forests, swamps, and suburban areas year-round. These large nocturnal predators thrive in the state's diverse habitats from the Appalachian foothills to the Gulf Coastal Plain. They are one of Alabama's most successful and widespread birds of prey.

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 20, 2026.

Great Horned Owl photographed in Alabama — Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.

Found in Alabama

1
species recorded: 7,749
GBIF records: 6
birding hotspots: April, March, September
peak months

Yes, great horned owls are in Alabama. Next you'll want:

Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

365 verified observations on iNaturalist of great horned owl have been recorded in Alabama, most often in April, March, September.

When great horned owl are recorded in Alabama

Where Great Horned Owls Are Found in Alabama

Great Horned Owls live throughout Alabama in a variety of habitats. They occupy the Appalachian Mountains of north Alabama, including areas around Lookout Mountain and Cheaha Mountain, where dense deciduous and mixed forests provide ideal nesting sites. The state's central region, known as the Black Belt, has open woodlands and scattered forests that support healthy owl populations. In south Alabama, the Mobile Bay area and surrounding wetlands, including the Sipsey Swamp and other cypress-tupelo swamps, are prime Great Horned Owl territory. The birds also thrive in longleaf pine forests of the coastal plain, particularly in protected areas and state forests. River valleys, including those along the Tombigbee River and Alabama River, provide corridors where Great Horned Owls hunt and nest. Suburban and rural areas with mature trees, woodlots, and park forests throughout the state host resident owl populations. Whether in deep wilderness or near human settlements, Great Horned Owls adapt to Alabama's landscape, making them one of the state's most successful raptors. Visit/wildlife/alabamato learn about other owls and birds of prey in the state. Seethe Great Horned Owl guide for Alabamafor more.

Season and Timing in Alabama

Great Horned Owls in Alabama are year-round residents, meaning they do not migrate and can be heard and observed in all seasons. The breeding season runs from December through April, making winter the best time to hear their deep hooting calls. During these months, owls establish territories and roost in tall cypress trees, oaks, and pines throughout the state. Their most recognizable call, a series of deep booming hoots, becomes particularly loud and frequent during the breeding season as pairs communicate and defend territories. By late winter and early spring, pairs are actively nesting in stick nests inherited from hawks or crows, or occasionally in large natural tree cavities. Eggs typically hatch by April, and fledgling owls leave the nest by June and July. Throughout summer and fall, Great Horned Owls remain active but less vocal. Sightings are possible any time of year, though their secretive nature and nocturnal habits make daylight observations relatively uncommon. The best opportunities to find them involve searching their preferred roost sites in dense evergreen or deciduous trees, or listening for their calls on quiet nights, particularly in winter. Seethe Alabama wildlife guidefor more.

How to Identify a Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are Alabama's largest common owl species, roughly the size of a large hawk. Adults measure 18 to 25 inches tall with a wingspan up to 60 inches. The most distinctive feature is a pair of prominent ear tufts, feathered extensions on the head that look like horns or ears. These tufts give the species its name and are visible when the owl is perched, though they flatten down in flight. The plumage varies from gray-brown to rust-brown, with darker streaking that provides excellent camouflage in trees. Their eyes are large, forward-facing, and bright yellow, giving them an intensely fierce expression. The facial disc, or face, shows a subtle pattern with a dark band across the forehead. Males are smaller than females, a common pattern in owls. In flight, Great Horned Owls appear large and stocky with broad wings and a short tail. Their silhouette against a moon or twilight sky is unmistakable. Juvenile owls lack the prominent ear tufts and appear fluffier and browner than adults. The deep hooting call, described as a series of four to five booming notes that sound like "hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo," is one of the most reliable ways to identify the species in Alabama.

Where Sightings Concentrate in Alabama

Great Horned Owl sightings in Alabama concentrate in specific habitat types where the birds find both cover and abundant prey. Mature deciduous and mixed forests with large old trees are prime locations, particularly forests with cypress, tupelo, oak, and pine. The Sipsey Swamp in northwestern Alabama, part of the Sipsey Wilderness, is a hotspot for Great Horned Owls, offering deep forest refuge and healthy populations of rabbits and rodents. State parks and forests across Alabama, including Cheaha State Park in the mountains and Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham, provide accessible locations for owl observation. River valleys, especially along the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers in the central part of the state, concentrate owls where riparian forests provide tall nesting trees and abundant small mammal prey. Suburban and urban parks with mature trees, including parks in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville, host resident owls that hunt in woodland edges and open areas at night. Coastal pine flatwoods in the southern part of the state, particularly near the Mobile Bay area, support year-round populations. Agricultural areas with scattered woodlots and hedgerows also support Great Horned Owls. The best viewing strategy involves visiting these habitats at dawn or dusk and listening for calls, or observing roosting sites where owls remain hidden in dense evergreen or deciduous cover during daylight. Learn more about observing Alabama wildlife at/wildlife.

Typical Behavior and Diet

Great Horned Owls in Alabama are primarily nocturnal hunters that begin activity shortly after sunset. They hunt by perching quietly on high branches and listening for prey movements below, then diving silently to capture their target. Their large forward-facing eyes provide exceptional night vision, and their asymmetrical ear placement allows them to pinpoint prey sounds with remarkable precision. The primary diet consists of cottontail rabbits and eastern fox squirrels, particularly during fall and winter when these animals are most abundant. They also hunt smaller prey including voles, mice, rats, flying squirrels, opossums, and raccoons. Skunks and other mustelids are regular menu items despite their defensive odor. Great Horned Owls are opportunistic predators and will take waterfowl, wading birds, crows, and other raptors when the opportunity arises. A single Great Horned Owl may kill more than a dozen small mammals in a week. These owls are fierce competitors for food and territory, engaging in dramatic aerial combat with other large birds of prey, including Bald Eagles. Roosting behavior involves perching in dense trees during the day, typically in evergreen cover where the dark bird blends seamlessly with shadows and foliage. They remain solitary during the day and only become vocal and social during the breeding season when pairs work together to defend territory and raise young.

Coexistence and Safety

Great Horned Owls in Alabama pose no threat to humans and can be safely observed from appropriate distances. These owls do not attack people under normal circumstances, even when defending nests or young. The most important safety precaution is to avoid approaching active nests or young owls on the ground, which could stress the family and disrupt nesting success. If you encounter a young owl on the ground during late spring or early summer, it is likely a fledgling still being fed by parents and should be left alone. Great Horned Owls are protected under federal law by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to harm, capture, or kill them. However, they are not listed as endangered or threatened in Alabama and their populations remain stable and widespread. Local regulations in Alabama prohibit harassment or disturbance of nesting birds, so observing from a distance and avoiding dawn and dusk approach to known nest sites is respectful practice. The main human-caused mortality threats to Great Horned Owls in Alabama include vehicle collisions on roads, particularly in suburban areas where owls hunt along roadsides. Rodent poison used in pest control can accumulate in owl tissues over time, though this is a relatively minor threat compared to other factors. Habitat loss in urban sprawl and forest clearing can reduce nesting and hunting opportunities, though Alabama's remaining forests still support useful populations. Coexistence is straightforward: enjoy observing and listening to these remarkable predators while maintaining appropriate distance and respecting their nesting activities.

Species Confusion in Alabama

Several other owl species in Alabama might be confused with Great Horned Owls, though careful observation reveals clear differences. The Barred Owl is Alabama's second most common large owl and shares similar size and forest habitat. However, Barred Owls lack ear tufts and have dark eyes rather than yellow, and their facial pattern is more uniformly barred with a stockier, rounder head. Their hooting call is distinctive, sounding like "who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all," quite different from the Great Horned Owl's deeper booming notes. The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl with small ear tufts that appear as low bumps on the head. Short-eared Owls hunt during daylight in open grasslands and marshes, and have a buffy plumage that is distinctly different from the Great Horned Owl's darker coloring. The Long-eared Owl is a smaller, more delicate owl than the Great Horned Owl, with longer, more erect ear tufts and a more patterned, cryptic appearance. Long-eared Owls favor dense woodland cover and are far less common in Alabama than Great Horned Owls. The Great Gray Owl, though rare or absent in Alabama, is much larger than the Great Horned Owl and lacks ear tufts entirely. Eastern Screech-Owls are small owls with ear tufts but are only 7 to 10 inches tall, less than half the size of a Great Horned Owl. Size, eye color, ear tuft prominence, habitat use, and call characteristics all help distinguish these species with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time of night are Great Horned Owls most active in Alabama? Great Horned Owls hunt primarily in the first few hours after sunset and again in the hours before dawn. They may be active throughout the night, but hunting activity peaks during twilight periods when low light allows them to see while prey may be moving between roosting and feeding areas. Can you find Great Horned Owls during the day in Alabama? Though Great Horned Owls are nocturnal, they can occasionally be spotted during daylight, particularly in the morning when they are returning to daytime roost sites or in late afternoon as they prepare for the evening hunt. Look in dense evergreen or deciduous trees where shadows provide cover. What is the best way to photograph or observe Great Horned Owls in Alabama? The most reliable method is audio recording at night during the breeding season from December through March. Visit suitable habitat such as forests or parks after dark and listen carefully. Locate roosting owls during the day by looking in tall evergreens or by following small songbirds that mob owls, a behavior called mobbing where small birds harass owls to drive them away. Visit/wildlife/alabama/great-horned-owlfor Alabama-specific guides. How many Great Horned Owls live in Alabama? Population estimates are difficult to establish for nocturnal predators, but based on the extent of suitable habitat and the species' widespread occurrence, Alabama certainly supports hundreds of breeding pairs distributed across the state's forests, swamps, and woodland areas.

Plan your trip

Best time to see great horned owl in Alabama: April, March, September

See the month-by-month sighting calendar.

When to go

Plan your great horned owl sighting in Alabama

7,749 verified great horned owl records have been logged in Alabama, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.

Where to look in Alabama

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Little River Canyon National Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Russell Cave National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument · Find hotels
Freedom Riders National Monument · Find hotels
Dauphin Island · 358 species recorded
Fort Morgan State Historic Site · 351 species recorded
Wheeler NWR (please consider using more specific location/hotspot) · 298 species recorded
Gulf SP · 297 species recorded
Bon Secour NWR · 290 species recorded
Eufaula NWR · 284 species recorded

Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).

Recent great horned owl sightings

516 Gopher Ridge Road · 2026-07-20 08:38 · 1 seen
Union Camp (private property) · 2026-07-19 05:59 · 2 seen
Wehle Forever Wild Tract · 2026-07-17 05:23 · 1 seen
Old Chimney Road · 2026-07-17 04:56 · 1 seen
Bon Secour NWR--Mobile St. · 2026-07-16 06:15 · 1 seen

Planning a trip to see great horned owl? Find places to stay near Horseshoe Bend National Military Park on Booking.com.

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