Great horned owl fledglings

These little furballs will grow up to be great horned owls, fierce predators with camouflage coloring. For now, they sport a layer of fluffy light-colored down and have yet to grow their full 'horns'—tufts of feathers known as plumicorns. But they will become voracious carnivores capable of hunting down prey larger than themselves, including other owls. Typical meals will consist of small animals like rabbits, squirrels, mice, and even scorpions.

They spend their days roosting and their nights hunting alone. Great horned owls don't migrate but often move from one territory to another. These distinctive birds can be found almost anywhere in the Americas, from sub-Arctic regions to the tropics. You might even find them in your own backyard!