Great Horned Owls are one of the most widespread and common owls in North America. They are large, powerful owls that can live up to 30 years in the wild. Given their longevity, there are likely Great Horned Owls that have reached very old ages in captivity or the wild. Determining the identity of the oldest living Great Horned Owl is challenging, but examining longevity records, banding data, and cases of known old owls can provide insight into which individuals may be the oldest of their species.
Oldest Known Great Horned Owls
Records show that Great Horned Owls can live surprisingly long lives in the wild. The oldest known wild Great Horned Owl was at least 28 years, 5 months old when it was found in Ohio in 2005. It had been banded in 1977 in the same state. 28 years marks the record for the oldest known wild Great Horned Owl, but even older ages may be possible. In captivity, the oldest documented Great Horned Owl was a female that lived to be at least 46 years old, from 1964 to 2010, at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch in Yellowstone National Park.
Great Horned Owls that reach ages older than 28 years would be exceeding the current known longevity records. Given that the maximum documented age is 46 years in captivity, there is the potential for wild Great Horned Owls to live into their 30s and 40s. Any bird surpassing 28 years old would be a contender for the oldest Great Horned Owl.
Examining Banding and Encounter Data
One way to identify extremely old Great Horned Owls is to look at banding and encounter records. Great Horned Owls are frequently banded as nestlings or caught and banded as adults as part of research and monitoring projects. These bands include unique numbered identification so the age of the owl can be determined if they are later recaptured or found deceased. Examining banding and encounter databases for instances of Great Horned Owls exceeding 25 or 30 years old could pick out candidates for the oldest in the wild. This data could potentially identify birds banded as nestlings that go on to reach remarkable ages.
Databases that may provide longevity info from banding include the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory, Canadian Bird Banding Office, and records kept by individual researchers and academics. These sources represent decades worth of banding records that could hold examples of exceptionally old wild Great Horned Owls.
Famous Older Captive Owls
In captivity, Great Horned Owls are known to live much longer than they do in the wild. The 46 year old female mentioned previously demonstrates their potential lifespan when protected in captivity. Other notably old captive Great Horned Owls include Charlie, a male that lived to be at least 36 years old at the Wasatch Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Utah. A Great Horned Owl named Isabella lived to at least 34 years old at the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Florida. While not as old as the 46 year longevity record, these owls represent how old captive individuals can get with proper care. Any captive Great Horned Owls exceeding 35 or 40 years old would be contenders for the oldest as well.
Things to Consider in the Search
When examining reports of old Great Horned Owls, whether captive or in the wild, it is important to confirm the reliability of the age determination. Some key considerations include:
- Is the reported age based on banding records from the bird’s early life, or is it an estimate?
- How was the bird’s age determined after it was encountered as an old owl? Was it confirmed through old banding data or assessed based on physical signs of aging?
- Is there documentation to support the extremely old age claim of a captive owl?
- Have any band loss or errors in band data occurred that make the age uncertain or inaccurate?
These factors help ensure that any information on potential oldest Great Horned Owls is backed up by reliable age data and evidence before being accepted as record-breaking.
Traits of the Oldest Owls
What traits and circumstances allow Great Horned Owls to reach extreme old age? Some possibilities include:
- Genetics – Some owls likely have genes that promote longevity
- Good early nutrition – Getting adequate food as juveniles can promote long-term health
- Lack of diseases and parasites – Avoiding harmful infections from bacteria, viruses and parasites
- Safe territory and habitat – Access to shelter and food resources improves survival
- Low environmental toxins – Avoiding harmful chemicals allows healthier aging
- Limited injuries – Not sustaining bad wounds and injuries
- NoHuman threats – Limited negative impacts from humans
Great Horned Owls that reach advanced age have likely benefited from a combination of these factors throughout their lives. The chances of an owl living over 25 or 30 years in the wild are low, but those that do make it that long demonstrate the amazing resilience of these birds.
Impacts of Old Age
Surviving to extreme old age has impacts on Great Horned Owl behavior and health. Very old Great Horned Owls likely start to suffer declines in their physical capabilities. Vision, hearing, wing strength, cardiovascular fitness and other aspects of their bodies degrade with age. Owls relying on hunting skills to survive, these declines can eventually impact their ability to thrive. Elderly owls may also begin to suffer more from arthritis and other degenerative issues. Reproduction is also impacted – old owls do not mate or lay eggs. Surviving requires relying on lifetimes of gained wisdom as their bodies show signs of aging.
How Old Birds Are Identified
Determining if a wild Great Horned Owl is the oldest comes down to confirming its exact age, usually through several methods:
- Leg Bands – Reading leg bands and tracing the owl’s banding as a nestling provides exact age
- Plumage and Molt – Appearance and feather condition can give clues to relative age
- Damage and Wear – Bill and talon damage/wear indicates longevity
- Reproductive Status – Elderly birds do not breed or lay eggs
- Physical Capability – Reduced vision, hearing, stamina point to old age
- Known History – Previous sightings and identification of the owl provide age context
In most cases, leg bands provide the definitive evidence of an owl’s age, while the other factors help confirm the elder status of banded birds. Collectively, these aspects allow good age determination.
Challenges in Finding the Oldest
There are some challenges that make identifying the oldest Great Horned Owl difficult:
- Lost bands – Leg bands with the owl’s early age can be lost
- No banding – The oldest owls may not have been banded when young
- Remote areas – Extremely old owls could live and die undetected in remote wilderness
- Underreported – Cases of old owls may simply not be well-documented or shared
Without banding data, determining if an unbanded owl is the oldest can be guesswork unless other strong evidence is available. Even with banding, those records need to be reported and accessible after the owl’s demise to identify longevity. The most elderly owls likely simply die unseen in the depths of a forest without anyone being aware of their amazing age. These factors make finding solid proof of the oldest Great Horned Owl inherently challenging.
Role of Captive Owls
Captive Great Horned Owls have provided many records of exceptional longevity of the species. While not relevant to maximum wild ages, lengthy captive lifespans demonstrate the potential for very old Great Horned Owls when protected in captivity. Captive owls are sheltered from environmental dangers, fed consistently, and receive veterinary care – allowing much extended life compared to wild birds facing the full range of survival challenges and threats. However, captive owl records provide helpful context for assessing lifespans, health issues, and aging characteristics of very old birds. Geriatric captive owls can provide biological insights not available from carcasses of wild birds that simply die unseen. Documented cases of captive Great Horned Owls living into their 30s, 40s and beyond reveal much about their potential natural lifespans.
Notable Efforts to Find the Oldest
There are some notable efforts by researchers and academics to find the oldest Great Horned Owl through banding data:
- Julie Victoria’s review – Examined Bird Banding Lab records for longevity insights
- Houston Audubon Society’s historic research – Compiled known cases of old banded owls in Texas
- University of Minnesota 25-year study – Monitored banded Great Horned Owls for extreme ages
- Conservation International’s senior bird initiative – Requested reports of very old wild or captive Great Horned Owls
While no organized effort has yet identified any Great Horned Owl exceeding 28 years old, projects like these could uncover an older record and are worth following for anyone interested in the topic.
Importance of an Answer
Beyond satisfying curiosity, definitively identifying the oldest known Great Horned Owl would provide important expanded knowledge about the species’ longevity. It would set a new bar for the maximum attainable age, with implications for the owls’ biology, evolution, and life history. An extremely old individual could help understand health, reproduction, hunting and survivorship late into the owls’ lives. Conservationists could use the longevity insights to better manage and protect wild populations. There are sound scientific reasons to want to document the oldest Great Horned Owl possible.
Potential Record-Breaking Owls
While no Great Horned Owl older than 28 years has been confirmed thus far, there are several candidates that may prove to be the oldest someday:
- Owl Z – A wild male Great Horned Owl that was photographed in Vermont in 2015 and may be 30+ years old based on plumage and behavior. Leg bands not confirmed.
- Charlie II – A captive male rescued in Idaho that avicultural records suggest may be as old as 40 years based on when he was acquired. Age not independently verified.
- Bowie – A female Great Horned Owl that was recorded as Active in the Bird Banding Lab in 2013 at age 31 years old. Still alive at the time but current status unknown.
These three owls demonstrate there are prospects of finding a Great Horned Owl exceeding the current known age record of 28 years. However, their longevity claims require further documentation to be accepted. The search continues for a definitively confirmed new record holder.
Approaches for an Answer
Several approaches could yield a definitive answer to the question of the oldest Great Horned Owl:
- Exhaustive review of all banding and encounter data records for old owls
- Targeted field study of nest sites with very old breeding pairs
- Radio-tracking of the oldest known banded wild owls to get mortality data
- Public outreach requesting reports of owls 20+ years old from researchers and the public
- Compiling records of all captive owls with detailed age verification
A systematic effort using a mix of these tactics may be required, but the longevity record is likely out there waiting to be found. Expanding the search beyond just banding records could help turn up candidates. Captive owls may also reveal record ages through improved documentation. It may simply be a matter of time until efforts locate a Great Horned Owl exceeding 28 years, but dedicated focus on the question could accelerate this discovery.
Conclusion
In summary, the current best knowledge is that the oldest known Great Horned Owl was a wild 28 year old female. However, there are good reasons to think older birds may exist, both in the wild and in captivity. Systematically searching banding databases, increasing public engagement, compiling captive records, and conducting focused field studies could help find owls surpassing 28 years old. Patience and commitment to the search will be needed, but the record is likely out there waiting to be found. Identifying the oldest Great Horned Owl is important for fully understanding the limits of their natural longevity. The quest continues to answer this intriguing question. With the right effort and evidence, the oldest Great Horned Owl may reveal itself in due time.