1 The Mystery Behind the Name

The name great horned owl suggests the involvement of some kind of horns. These owls do not really have actual horns, instead have tufts or feathers that bear semblance to a horn. In fact, some people also call them cat owls, since they feel the tufts appear similar to cat's ears. Thy have nothing to do with hearing. They help in camouflaging the animal, by helping it blend in as it perches. The tufts stand up like ears when the owl is inquisitive and falls flat when it's irritated.