Are There Great Horned Owls in Maryland?

Yes, Great Horned Owls are year-round residents throughout Maryland, inhabiting deciduous forests, river valleys, and woodlands from the Appalachian mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. These large nocturnal predators thrive in Maryland's diverse forest habitats. Maryland supports healthy populations of this formidable raptor across all regions and elevations.

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 Maryland — Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.

Found in Maryland

1
species recorded: 22,451
GBIF records: 6
birding hotspots: April, March, February
peak months

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

Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

579 verified observations on iNaturalist of great horned owl have been recorded in Maryland, most often in April, March, February.

When great horned owl are recorded in Maryland

Where Great Horned Owls Are Found in Maryland

Great Horned Owls occupy forested regions throughout Maryland from mountain peaks to coastal wetlands. The Appalachian Mountains in western Maryland, including areas around Garrett County and the high plateaus, provide ideal habitat in deciduous and mixed forests. The Piedmont region of central Maryland provides productive forests with oak-hickory composition. The Patuxent River and other river valleys provide important riparian corridors with mature trees. The Chesapeake Bay region and associated wetlands support populations in coastal and semi-coastal habitats. The Patapsco River valley and other river systems provide critical habitat throughout the state. C&O Canal area provides riparian forest habitat. Urban and suburban parks with mature trees throughout Baltimore, Annapolis, and other cities support resident populations adapted to human proximity. Private woodlots and protected lands throughout Maryland support populations. State parks and nature preserves throughout Maryland host accessible populations. The state's elevation variation from near sea level to over 3,000 feet creates diverse habitat niches. Seethe Great Horned Owl guide for Marylandfor more.

Season and Timing in Maryland

Great Horned Owls in Maryland are year-round residents that do not migrate. Breeding begins early, with pairs establishing territories in December and January and laying eggs by February and early March. This early timing allows young to fledge by late spring when prey increases. The breeding season runs from December through June, with the most intense territorial calling occurring in January and February. Pairs duet loudly during this period. Eggs typically hatch in late February and March, and young fledge by May and June. Fledglings remain dependent on parents through summer and early fall. Throughout summer and fall, owls remain active but less vocal. Maryland's four-season climate provides year-round hunting opportunities. Spring flooding along rivers concentrates prey. Fall and winter offer challenges including reduced prey visibility. Mountain populations may show slight altitudinal movement in response to winter conditions. Seethe Maryland wildlife guidefor more.

How to Identify a Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are Maryland's largest common owl and unmistakable when observed. Adults measure 18 to 25 inches tall with wingspans reaching 60 inches. The most distinctive feature is a pair of prominent ear tufts extending from the top of the head. Maryland's Great Horned Owls typically display gray-brown or russet-brown plumage with darker streaking. The facial disc is relatively flat and broadly rounded. The eyes are large, forward-facing, and bright yellow, creating an intensely fierce expression. A dark facial mask surrounds the yellow eyes. Females are noticeably larger than males. In flight, Great Horned Owls appear large and powerful with broad wings and a short tail. Juvenile owls lack prominent ear tufts and appear fluffier and browner. The call is distinctive, a series of deep hooting notes, typically four to five booms sounding like "hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo." In Maryland's forests and river valleys, this call carries considerable distances. Seethe national wildlife hubfor more.

Where Sightings Concentrate in Maryland

Great Horned Owl sightings in Maryland concentrate in forested habitats and protected areas. Western Maryland mountains provide excellent habitat. State parks and forests throughout Maryland host populations, including Rocky Gap State Park and others. Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore offers accessible habitat. University properties and institutional lands support populations. Urban parks with mature trees throughout Baltimore, Annapolis, and other cities provide accessible viewing. C&O Canal National Historical Park offers riparian habitat. Chesapeake Bay wetland areas provide viewing opportunities. River valleys and gorges throughout the state concentrate populations. The best viewing strategy involves visiting forest habitat during the breeding season from December through March and listening for territorial calling. Early morning before dawn or at dusk offers the best chances to hear calling owls. Nocturnal visits during breeding season yield reliable sightings. Visit/wildlife/marylandfor wildlife viewing opportunities.

Typical Behavior and Diet

Great Horned Owls in Maryland are fierce nocturnal predators with diets reflecting the state's eastern fauna. Cottontail rabbits and fox squirrels provide substantial meals, particularly in fall and winter. Gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and flying squirrels are taken regularly. Voles, mice, rats, and other rodents supplement the diet. Opossums and raccoons are taken occasionally. Great Horned Owls will hunt skunks despite their defensive spray. Waterfowl including ducks and geese provide seasonal prey. Crows and large birds are captured when opportunities arise. The hunting strategy involves perching on prominent branches and listening intently for prey movements. The owl's exceptional night vision and asymmetrical ear placement allow pinpointing of prey. Once located, the owl dives silently at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. Great Horned Owls are fierce competitors for food and territory. Roosting behavior involves spending daylight hours in dense trees.

Coexistence and Safety

Great Horned Owls in Maryland pose no threat to humans and can be safely observed from appropriate distances. These owls do not attack people. Avoiding direct approach to active nesting sites, particularly from December through June, is respectful practice. If you encounter a fledgling owl on the ground in spring or summer, it is likely a young owl still being cared for by parents and should be left alone. Great Horned Owls are protected under federal law. Maryland has no state threatened or endangered listing for the species. Vehicle collisions can occur in suburban and rural areas. Rodent poison can accumulate in owl tissues. Habitat loss from development reduces available nesting sites. Coexistence is straightforward: enjoy observing these remarkable predators.

Species Confusion in Maryland

Several owl species in Maryland might be confused with Great Horned Owls, though distinctive features aid identification. The Barred Owl shares Maryland's forest habitat and is Maryland's second most common large owl. Barred Owls lack ear tufts and have dark brown eyes. Their facial pattern is uniformly barred. Their hooting sounds like "who cooks for you." The Barn Owl is pale-faced and lacks ear tufts. Short-eared Owls have small ear tufts and hunt in daylight. Long-eared Owls are smaller and more delicate. Eastern Screech-Owls are tiny. Size alone eliminates most confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are Great Horned Owls most active in Maryland? Great Horned Owls hunt primarily in the first few hours after sunset and again in the hours before dawn. What is the best season to observe Great Horned Owls in Maryland? The breeding season from December through March offers the best viewing opportunities. Can Great Horned Owls coexist with Barred Owls in Maryland? Yes, both species share Maryland's forests and coexist through habitat preferences. Are Great Horned Owls a threat to small pets in Maryland? Small outdoor pets left at night can potentially be taken. Learn more about Maryland wildlife at/wildlife/maryland.

Plan your trip

Best time to see great horned owl in Maryland: April, March, February

See the month-by-month sighting calendar.

When to go

Plan your great horned owl sighting in Maryland

22,451 verified great horned owl records have been logged in Maryland, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.

Where to look in Maryland

Antietam National Battlefield · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Assateague Island National Seashore · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Chesapeake Bay · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
Assateague Island National Seashore (please use more specific location) · 356 species recorded
Sandy Point State Park · 311 species recorded
Point Lookout State Park · 310 species recorded
Hart-Miller Island · 309 species recorded
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge · 306 species recorded
Assateague State Park · 302 species recorded

Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).

Recent great horned owl sightings

Pine bluff · 2026-07-19 20:49 · 1 seen
DK Aussie Ranch · 2026-07-17 20:34 · 1 seen
Leisure World Golf Club, Silver Spring US-MD (39.1055,-77.0670) · 2026-07-14 18:42 · 1 seen
My Yard · 2026-07-14 17:30 · 1 seen
10246 Threadneedle Ct, Ellicott City US-Ellicott City home MD 39.26911, -76.86462 · 2026-07-14 07:04 · 1 seen

Planning a trip to see great horned owl? Find places to stay near Antietam National Battlefield on Booking.com.

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