321K views · 1.8K reactions | The great horned owl is one of the largest and most powerful owl species in America. | National Geographic History | Facebook

Hoo hoo is this? Check out this great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) captured on the trail cam at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, "Home of Mitchell Caverns" cameras caught these owls bathing and cleaning themselves on multiple nights through the month of October. Like many bird species, owls will bathe in water to maintain their feathers. Fun facts: 🦉 can turn their heads up to 270 degrees and they’re fierce predators that can hunt at dawn, dusk or night, using their powerful talons.

PEEK-A-BOO! Owl ears! Those feather tufts on the heads of some owl species (ex: great horned owl, eastern screen owl) aren’t ears, they’re just lengthened feathers called plumicorns. They have nothing to do with hearing. Owl ears are actually on the sides of their head. In our latest episode, Strigiformology (OWLS), Dr. R.J. “Rocky” Gutiérrez explains: “Their ears are just these narrow slits hidden behind feathers. They have these little flaps that can control the opening and closing of the ears