Buy me a coffeeOwl, Great Horned Owl
“Discover the mysterious hunter of the night with its eerie hoot and fearsome talons—meet the Great Horned Owl!”
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is a formidable nocturnal predator, widely recognized for its striking appearance, adaptable behavior, and efficient hunting techniques.
Appearance
This large owl features piercing yellow eyes set against a facial disk framed by bold, feathered tufts resembling horns. Its plumage is a mottled mix of brown, gray, and white, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. A snowy white throat patch stands out as a prominent feature. Measuring 18–25 inches in length with a wingspan of 40–60 inches, its powerful build includes talons strong enough to crush bone.
Behavior
Great Horned Owls are solitary and highly territorial, often defending their ranges aggressively against intruders, including other raptors. They are primarily nocturnal but can sometimes be active during dawn or dusk. Known for their haunting hoots, they also communicate through growls, screeches, and beak clacking. These owls exhibit exceptional patience, often perching motionless for hours before striking.
Habitat
This owl’s adaptability allows it to thrive in diverse environments, from dense forests and open grasslands to deserts and urban areas. Its range spans across the Americas, from the Arctic tundra to tropical rainforests. It often nests in abandoned structures, including the vacated nests of hawks or crows.
Modus Operandi
A master of stealth, the Great Horned Owl uses silent flight to ambush prey. Its specialized wing feathers reduce turbulence noise, enabling it to approach unnoticed. Exceptional vision and hearing allow it to detect the faintest movements in low light. Once prey is located, it strikes swiftly, using razor-sharp talons to immobilize and kill. Its diet is diverse, ranging from rodents and rabbits to birds, reptiles, and even skunks, demonstrating its versatility.
Motivation
The Great Horned Owl’s primary drive is survival and reproduction. Fiercely efficient, it hunts to sustain itself and its young, often stockpiling food during the breeding season. Its tenacity and adaptability make it a top predator, dominating its ecosystem as a symbol of power and resilience.
Great Horned Owl 5e
Great Horned Owl Pathfinder
Great Horned Owl
Small beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 13 (3d6 + 3)
Speed: 10 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 (-1) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 2 (-4) | 14 (+2) | 6 (-2) |
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +5
Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages: —
Challenge: 1/4 (50 XP)
Traits
Keen Senses. The owl has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or hearing.
Silent Predator. While flying, the owl makes no noise. Creatures have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to detect the owl in flight.
Camouflage. While in forests, rocky terrain, or shadowed environments, the owl has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks to hide.
Actions
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Dive Attack. If the owl flies at least 30 feet straight toward a creature and hits it with its talons, the target takes an extra 3 (1d6) slashing damage.
Tactics
- Ambush Hunter: The Great Horned Owl prefers to strike from stealth, using Camouflage and its Silent Predator ability to remain undetected until the perfect moment.
- Mobility: With its high flying speed, it can attack and retreat quickly, avoiding prolonged fights.
- Targeting Weakness: The owl focuses on smaller or weaker prey, using its Dive Attack to maximize damage.
Great Horned Owl
This gray-and-white feathered owl has fluffy wings and a bulky head that makes it look larger than most owls.
Though great horned owls seem large, most of their apparent bulk comes from their particularly fluffy feathers and rather large heads. Great horned owls have wingspans of up to 5 feet and weigh up to 4 pounds.
Great horned owls primarily hunt at night, locating prey through their excellent hearing. Their diet consists of rodents supplemented by smaller birds and rabbits.
Great Horned Owl CR 1/2
Source Bestiary 3 pg. 1 (Amazon)
XP 200
N Small animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10
Defense
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
Offense
Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +3 (1d4–1)
Statistics
Str 8, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 6
Base Atk +0; CMB –2; CMD 10
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10, Stealth +10; Racial Modifiers +4 Fly, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth
Ecology
Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none