Field Marks: 22 in. Large and powerful; widely distributed across North America. Habitats vary from woodlands to open country, urban parks to semi-deserts. Combination of large size, prominent ear tufts set far apart, bright yellow eyes, and white throat distinctive. Primarily nocturnal. Can take prey as large as a porcupine. Plummage varies from very dark, in birds of the Pacific Northwest, to very pale in the Arctic. Typical adults mottled gray-brown above;buff below, barred dark brown; ear tufts on head and white throat distinctive; face tawny. Immature similar to adult but more rufous; ear tufts smaller; white on throat less extensive. Low, hooting "who-who-whowhowho-whooo-whooo"; sometimes abbreviated to include only last three to four notes.
Range: Resident from Alaska across Canada, south throughout United States to South America.