What large nocturnal owl with ear tufts is found throughout the Americas?

The large nocturnal owl with prominent ear tufts found across much of the Americas is the great horned owl, Bubo virginianus. Its “horns” are not ears but feather tufts called plumicorns, and they do not improve the owl’s hearing.

Great horned owls are among the most adaptable owls in the Western Hemisphere. They live in forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, wetlands, tundra, coastal areas, and some cities, ranging from subarctic North America through Central America and into parts of South America. Their broad diet includes rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians; they are also notable predators of skunks.

Their nighttime hunting depends heavily on hearing as well as vision. Asymmetrical ear openings help the owl compare the arrival time of sounds and locate prey, even when vegetation or snow hides it. This species is sometimes confused with the snowy owl or other tufted owls, but its large size, barred plumage, facial disk, and unmistakable plumicorns form a distinctive combination.