Great Horned Owl Nesting: 5 Surprising Places They Call Home (2025)

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You’ll discover great horned owl nesting sites in surprisingly diverse locations throughout North America.

These adaptable raptors don’t build their own nests—instead, they’re nature’s ultimate squatters, taking over abandoned hawk, crow, or squirrel nests in tall trees.

They’ll also claim tree cavities, rocky cliff ledges, and even old barns or building ledges in urban areas.

What makes them remarkable is their flexibility—you might spot them nesting 100 feet up in a desert saguaro cactus or just 10 feet high in a suburban park.

Their nesting season starts as early as February, when most birds are still planning their spring moves.

These strategic location choices reveal fascinating insights about their survival instincts and show how they thrive in various environments, making them a unique species to study, with their ability to adapt being a key factor in their success, and their ultimate squatters nature allowing them to make the most of available resources.

Nesting Site Varieties

Most Great Horned Owls don’t bother with construction work—they’re excellent at finding ready-made homes instead. You’ll discover these adaptable birds in surprisingly diverse owl nest locations, from abandoned hawk nests sixty feet up in towering oaks to cozy tree cavities just fifteen feet off the ground.

Their nest site selection depends heavily on geographic variation. In eastern forests, they’ll commandeer old crow nests in beech and maple trees, while western populations prefer cliff ledges and canyon walls.

Geographic variation shapes where these master home-invaders choose to set up shop.

Nest height varies dramatically based on available options, though they consistently choose spots that can support three to four pounds of owl family. The nest materials they inherit—sticks, bark, and feathers—gradually deteriorate throughout the season.

These practical birds rarely practice site reuse, since most nests fall apart after one breeding cycle. They’re particularly drawn to locations with open canopy nearby, which provides better hunting access and allows parents to spot potential threats.

This flexible owl nesting behavior explains their remarkable success across diverse habitats, from northern Canada’s boreal forests to tropical mangroves. To guarantee safety, owls often consider distance from food when selecting a nesting location.

Takeover Behavior of Nests

While observing these remarkable predators, you’ll discover their nest acquisition strategies are far more cunning than expected. Aggressive takeovers represent their most notorious owl nesting behavior, with up to 85% of nests originally built by other species.

Why build when you can steal? Great Horned Owls are the ultimate real estate pirates of the bird world.

This species displacement isn’t accidental—it’s calculated resource competition. Nest reuse through takeover occurs when Great Horned Owls identify prime real estate already constructed by hawks, crows, or herons.

Their owl and hawk interactions often result in complete displacement of the original builders. The timing coincides perfectly with late winter territorial disputes, giving owls first dibs on prime owl nest locations. Such behavior is a form of bird behavior territorial defense.

Here’s how these owl nest takeover scenarios typically unfold:

1. Surveillance Phase: Owls scout occupied nests during winter months, noting which structures offer the best protection and access
2. Strategic Strike: Using superior size and aggression, they forcibly evict current occupants just before breeding season peaks
3. Immediate Occupation: Within days of takeover, owls begin nesting preparations, adding their own materials to stolen architecture

This kleptoparasitic behavior showcases their adaptability—why build when you can simply commandeer?

Tree Cavity Nesting

While owls don’t construct their own homes, tree cavities offer prime real estate for nesting pairs.

These natural hollows in mature cottonwoods, oaks, and pines provide excellent protection from predators and harsh weather.

Cavity size matters – owls need spaces at least 16 inches wide and 8-24 inches deep to accommodate their growing family.

Cavity competition with squirrels and woodpeckers means early occupation by late January gives pairs the best advantage.

Unlike platform nests, cavities rarely contain internal lining, relying instead on debris from previous inhabitants for cushioning their eggs.

These cavities are often created by primary excavator species like woodpeckers.

Unconventional Nesting Locations

Beyond tree cavities, these adaptable raptors choose surprising unconventional nesting locations that’ll amaze you.

Their flexibility helps them thrive across diverse habitats when traditional options aren’t available.

These unusual cavities and manmade structures demonstrate remarkable nesting habits. Some birds even use spider webs for weaving their nests. Whether it’s cliff ledges or abandoned buildings, Great Horned Owls prove they’re masters of adaptation, finding safe nesting sites wherever opportunity presents itself.

Urban Nesting Adaptation

You’ll find great horned owl adaptability shines brightest in cities, where they’ve mastered urban nesting on skyscrapers, bridges, and cell towers.

City Owl Survival depends on their Human Proximity Tolerance, letting them nest within blocks of busy streets and construction sites. Urban Prey Abundance from rodents and small mammals supports thriving populations in metropolitan areas.

However, Light Pollution Impact disrupts their natural hunting rhythms, forcing behavioral adjustments. Artificial Nesting platforms and nest boxes help offset habitat loss, while park systems provide essential green corridors.

Urban owl habitat creates unique challenges—noise pollution affects communication between mates, yet these adaptable predators continue expanding into city centers. Their nesting sites now include stadium lights, hospital rooftops, and university campuses, proving remarkable resilience in concrete jungles.

They’re considered adaptable to habitats, including forests, swamps, and even deserts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)