bubo-, bub- +
(Latin: owl, horned owl)
Generally nocturnal, they fly low with slow, deliberate wingbeats interspersed with long bouts of gliding on outstreached wings. They usually fly close to the ground.
When defending young, adults often resort to diversionary tactics; such as, feigning wing injury.
Bengal Eagle Owls usually hunt from a perch, but they will also make low foraging flights to dive on prey.
They primarily hunt rats and mice, but they will also take birds up to the size of peafowl and they will eat reptiles, frogs, crabs, and large insects.
Eagle Owls have various hunting techniques, and will take prey on the ground or in full flight. They may hunt in forests, but they prefer open spaces.
Eagle Owls will eat almost anything the moves; from beetles to roe deer fawns. The major part of their diet consists of mammals (voles, rats, mice, foxes, hares, etc.), but birds of all kinds are also taken, including crows, ducks, grouse, seabirds, and even other birds of prey (including other owls). Other prey taken includes snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and crabs.
The Great Horned Owl was first seen in the Virginia colonies, so its species name was created from the Latinised form of the name of this territory (originally named for Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen").
The first published description was made in 1788 by Johann Gmelin. Great Horned Owls are sometimes known as Hoot Owls, Cat Owls, or Winged Tiger.