🌿ESM

Are There Great Horned Owls in New Jersey?

Yes, Great Horned Owls are common year-round residents across New Jersey, from the Pine Barrens wetlands to suburban woodlands. These large nocturnal predators live throughout the state's diverse habitats including forests, parks, and even dense residential areas. Their deep hooting calls echo through New Jersey nights all year long as they hunt rabbits and rodents.

T

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 New Jersey

Great Horned Owl · dianneconner CC BY

Great Horned Owl photographed in New Jersey

Great Horned Owl · George Pushkal CC BY

Great Horned Owl photographed in New Jersey

Great Horned Owl · dianneconner CC BY

Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Found in New Jersey
1
species recorded
26,438
GBIF records
6
birding hotspots
April, May, June
peak months

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

Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

681 verified observations on iNaturalist of great horned owl have been recorded in New Jersey, most often in April, May, June.

When great horned owl are recorded in New Jersey

Yes, Great Horned Owls are common year-round residents across New Jersey, from the Pine Barrens wetlands to suburban woodlands. These large nocturnal predators live throughout the state's diverse habitats including forests, parks, and even dense residential areas. Their deep hooting calls echo through New Jersey nights all year long as they hunt rabbits and rodents.

Where Great Horned Owls Live in New Jersey

ThroughoutNew Jersey, Great Horned Owls inhabit diverse landscapes from the coastal Pine Barrens to the northern forests. The Pinelands, a vast forest in central and southern Jersey, provides excellent owl habitat with dense pine and oak woods where they hunt and nest. The state's northern regions, including forested sections of the Highlands and Ridge and Valley provinces, offer the wooded valleys and ridgelines where these owls thrive. They also nest in urban and suburban woodlots, group parks, and isolated trees in developed residential areas. The Delaware River valley running along the state's western border hosts healthy populations in riparian forests and adjacent uplands. Great Horned Owls adapt well to fragmented landscapes and are found in surprising abundance near towns and cities throughout the state, hunting in parks and residential woods after dark. Seethe Great Horned Owl guide for New Jerseyfor more.

Season and Timing in New Jersey

Great Horned Owls are permanent year-round residents in New Jersey, present every month and every season. They do not migrate, instead staying to hunt and breed throughout the year. Breeding season peaks in late fall and early winter, with pairs establishing territories and nesting in late December through January. Young owls fledge in spring, becoming independent by summer. Fall and winter are excellent times to hear their deep hooting calls, as owls vocalize more frequently during breeding season. Winter weather actually increases hunting activity since prey becomes more visible against snow and bare ground. Migrating Great Horned Owls from farther north occasionally pass through New Jersey in fall, adding to local populations temporarily. You may encounter them any night of the year hunting for food.

How to Identify Great Horned Owls

Great Horned Owls are large, powerful birds, typically 18 to 25 inches tall with a wingspan reaching 36 to 60 inches. Their most distinctive features are the prominent ear tufts on their head, which are actually feather bundles and not true ears. Plumage varies from gray to russet to dark brown, providing camouflage against tree bark in daytime roosts. Facial disks are broad and flat, with large forward-facing yellow or orange eyes adapted for night vision. A white chin patch stands out against darker face coloring. Males are noticeably smaller than females, a common trait in raptors. Their deep, resonant hooting call is unmistakable, a series of 4 or 5 syllables sounding like 'hoo-hoo-hoo' or 'hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-whooo.' You can also identify them by their silhouette perched against the moonlit sky, the ear tufts clearly visible from a distance.

Where to See and Hear Them in New Jersey

Great Horned Owls concentrate in specific habitats acrossNew Jersey. Large tracts of forest within the Pinelands hold multiple hunting territories and breeding pairs. The Delaware River valley, particularly around river crossings and old-growth timber stands, hosts regular owl populations. Small lakes and ponds in northern counties, surrounded by deciduous or mixed forests, attract owls hunting for waterbirds and small mammals. Suburban parks with mature trees and nearby open fields provide ideal hunting habitat close to human development. Cemetery grounds with large trees often host roosting or nesting owls, especially older burial grounds with dense forest. Utility line corridors cutting through forests create open hunting areas where owls watch for movement. Listen for their calls at dusk and dawn from quiet locations near woodlots and water bodies. Many owls begin calling by mid-evening and continue through the night.

Great Horned Owl Behavior and Diet

Great Horned Owls are fierce nocturnal hunters with a remarkably diverse diet. They primarily hunt cottontail rabbits and eastern fox squirrels, which comprise half of their prey in New Jersey forests. They also take smaller mammals including chipmunks, rats, mice, and voles throughout the year. Waterbirds become important prey items when owls hunt near lakes, ponds, and the Delaware River, targeting ducks, geese, and herons. They occasionally hunt smaller bird species including grackles, starlings, and even other raptors. Hunting begins at dusk and continues through the night, with owls covering large territories in search of prey. They perch high in trees and wait for movement, then dive silently to strike with powerful talons. Adults defend large territories year-round, with pairs often roosting together during the day in dense tree canopies or shelter belts. They remain largely silent except during breeding season when they vocalize frequently to maintain pair bonds and territorial boundaries.

Living Safely Near Great Horned Owls

Great Horned Owls are not a threat to humans and avoid people completely. They are wild predators focused entirely on hunting mammals and birds, never approaching humans intentionally. Small pets including cats and small dogs left outside at night are technically at risk, as owls see them as potential prey. Keep pets indoors at night and supervise them during dawn and dusk when owls are most active. Great Horned Owls enjoy legal protection under federal and state law as native raptors. Harassing, harming, or killing owls is illegal without special permits. If you find an injured owl, contact the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife for assistance. Enjoy these remarkable predators responsibly by observing from a distance and never attempting to handle wild birds. Many people value owls for their role in rodent control, which reduces the need for pesticides around homes and farms.

Similar Species in New Jersey

Several other owls occur inNew Jerseyand might cause confusion with Great Horned Owls. The Barred Owl is similar in size but lacks prominent ear tufts and has dark eyes instead of yellow eyes. Barred Owls produce a distinctive 'who cooks for you' call, quite different from the Great Horned's hooting. Long-eared Owls are smaller and more slender than Great Horned Owls, with smaller feet and less powerful appearance. Short-eared Owls hunt in open fields and grasslands during winter migration, never in the dense forests preferred by Great Horned Owls. The Great Gray Owl, a rare winter visitor from the north, is larger overall but appears more slender and delicate. Eastern Screech-Owls are much smaller, only 8 inches tall, with trembling whinny calls. Barn Owls have heart-shaped white faces and lack ear tufts entirely. Learning these differences helps confirm Great Horned Owl identification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Great Horned Owls eat? Great Horned Owls hunt rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and waterbirds. They occasionally take smaller raptors and other owl species. Can you visit them in zoos or centers? Yes, some New Jersey zoos and raptor rehabilitation centers house Great Horned Owls for education programs. Are Great Horned Owls endangered? No, they are common and stable throughout North America, with healthy populations acrossNew Jersey. How long do they live? Great Horned Owls live 15 to 20 years in the wild and even longer in captivity, making them long-lived predators. What sounds do they make? Beyond their classic deep hooting, they produce bill snapping, hisses, and harsh screams when threatened or defending nest areas. Where should I look to find them? Listen for their calls from quiet forest edges at dusk, and look for them roosting in dense evergreens or cavity tree roosts during the day.

Plan your trip

Best time to see great horned owl in New Jersey: April, May, June

See the month-by-month sighting calendar.

When to go

Plan your great horned owl sighting in New Jersey

26,438 verified great horned owl records have been logged in New Jersey, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.

Where to look in New Jersey

Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).

Recent great horned owl sightings

  • PSEG Field - Sylvan · 2026-07-19 22:40 · 1 seen
  • Cloverdale Farm · 2026-07-19 07:00 · 1 seen
  • Bellwood neighborhood · 2026-07-18 22:13 · 1 seen
  • 502 Fourth Ave, Haddon Heights US-NJ 39.87928, -75.05101 · 2026-07-17 05:22 · 1 seen
  • Birdwood Section Haddonfield · 2026-07-17 04:55 · 1 seen

Planning a trip to see great horned owl? Find places to stay near Appalachian National Scenic Trail on Booking.com.