2020 Christmasville Limited Edition - 9.5x5 Oil on Light Walnut
 
Also called a tiger owl or hoot owl, this owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks and native only to the Americas.  He is very adaptable and eats rodents, reptiles, amphibians and anything he can overtake, even large prey like other raptors where his strong talons require a force of 28 pounds to open.  He's not a picky eater.  Even though the female is larger than her mate, the male has a larger voice box and deeper voice.  This pair will find an already-built nest and are one of the earliest nesting North American birds to laying eggs and start a family - before and even months before other raptorial birds.