Great Horned Owl eggs
Dull white, unmarked, about 2.05–2.32 inches long — about 2.3 times the width of a US quarter. A Great Horned Owl lays 1–4 eggs, and they hatch after 28–37 days.
- Color
- Dull white, unmarked
- Length
- 2.05–2.32 in (52–59 mm)
- Width
- 1.73–1.85 in (44–47 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–4 eggs
- Incubation
- 28–37 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Nest
- Reuses old hawk, crow or heron nests; also ledges and cavities
How to recognise a Great Horned Owl egg
- Color: dull white, unmarked. There are no markings on a fresh egg, though eggs pick up stains from the nest as incubation goes on.
- Size: 52–59 mm long by 44–47 mm wide. For scale, a US quarter is 24.3 mm across, so this egg is about 2.3 times the width of a US quarter.
- Where you find it: reuses old hawk, crow or heron nests; also ledges and cavities. Great horned owls do not normally use nest boxes.
- Clutch: 1–4 eggs. A nest with far more eggs than this may hold eggs from two females, or a cowbird egg laid by a brood parasite.
Eggs that look similar
These species lay eggs in the same color group, sorted by how close they are in length. Size and nest site usually settle it.
| Species | Egg | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | dull white, unmarked | 52–59 mm |
| Rock Pigeon | white, unmarked | 37–41 mm |
| Bald Eagle | dull white, unmarked | 58–89 mm |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | white, unmarked | 34–38 mm |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | white, unmarked | 29–32 mm |
When great horned owls lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Arkansas (Jan) and latest in Alabama (Apr). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 28–37 days and the young leave 42–49 days later. See the full baby Great Horned Owl guide for nestling stages and what to do if you find one on the ground.
Found eggs in your yard?
- Leave them. Parents often step away for long stretches, especially before the full clutch is laid, because most songbirds do not start incubating until the last or second-to-last egg.
- A single egg on the ground is usually lost for good. Eggs cannot be hatched at home, and possession of native bird eggs is illegal without a permit.
- If a nest is somewhere inconvenient, wait it out. Most small songbirds are done in three to five weeks.
- Watch from a distance and keep pets indoors. Repeated visits can lead predators to the nest.
Questions
Frequently asked
What color are Great Horned Owl eggs?
Dull white, unmarked.
How big is a Great Horned Owl egg?
About 2.05–2.32 in long and 1.73–1.85 in wide (52–59 × 44–47 mm) — about 2.3 times the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Great Horned Owl lay?
1–4 eggs per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 1 per season.
How long until Great Horned Owl eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 28–37 days. The young then stay in the nest 42–49 days — about 70–86 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Great Horned Owl nest with eggs?
No. Native birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wait until the young have left before removing an old nest.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds: Great Horned Owl life history
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.