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A Great Horned Owl's wingspan can be as wide as 57 inches and it can weigh up to 5 1/2 pounds. The females are larger and generally darker than the males.  The Great Horned Owl has a large head, yellow eyes (that create a cat-like appearance), gray-brown plumage, and feathered ear tufts.  It gets its name from the horn-like feather ear tufts which have nothing to do with hearing.  The Great Horned Owl's ears are actually on the sides of its head.

Voice Song: Its territorial song is a series of 3-8 loud, deep hoots in a rhythmic series; the second and third hoots are often short and rapid: commonly "hoo hoo-hoo hoooo hoo"; often longer, "hoo huhuhoo hooooo hoo".  Mostly heard near dusk and dawn.  Male territorial singing begins about November.  Duetting commonly begins 1-2 months before the first egg is laid.  Female's voice is the higher pitched, closer to a mourning dove's.

From the"National Geographic book, Complete Birds of North America, 2006"

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