Great Horned Owl

Nest structure Plan and Information

Select another species:

Great Horned Owl
© Christine Haines
Construction difficulty:
kid-friendly
simple

Download Nest Structure Plan

Species in decline

This species is in decline in certain regions. You can put up a nest box to help if you live in the right region and habitat.

  • Declining
  • Not declining
  • Not present
Source: USGS

Nesting Range

Great Horned Owl Range Source: Birds of the World

Nesting Habitat

  • Forest
  • Open Woodland

Attach Nest Box To

  • Live tree

Known Nesting Period

Not Nesting
Some Nesting Occurrence
Nesting in Most of Range
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Source: Birds of the World

Nest Box Placement

Nest Height:
15ft
45ft

15–45 feet

Minimum Spacing:

1.5 mile

Facing:

Not applicable

Helpful Tips

  • Place nest cones in trees in the fall so they can be located by owls by the following January.
  • Place the nest in a live hardwood tree that is at least 12 inches in diameter.
  • Placing nest cones in orchards or on farm woodlots can help control rodent populations.
  • Construction tips: Use a plant stand with a 12 inch opening to hold the cone during construction. Build a raft-like base at the bottom of the nest cone and secure the base to the sides of the cone with landscaping wire. Create vertical stick spokes (visualize a bike wheel) to use for attaching horizontal sticks. Work your way from the bottom to the top, securing sticks in 6 inch segments with landscaping wire. Add loops to the outside of the cone to aid in installation. Have an arborist install the cone! When Great Horned Owls select a tree as their nest site, they prefer to nest at a height of 15-45 feet; in hardwood trees with at least a 12 inch diameter.