Stolas is a Great Horned Owl, one of the most common and widespread owl species in North America. Great Horned Owls are large, powerful birds of prey that are known for their distinctive ear tufts, imposing size, and deep hooting calls. They have a prominent place in mythology, folklore, and popular culture, often portrayed as symbols of wisdom and intelligence. But what exactly makes Stolas a Great Horned Owl? Here is a look at the key identifying features and characteristics that confirm Stolas as a member of the Bubo virginianus species.
Physical Features
Great Horned Owls like Stolas have a number of distinctive physical features that set them apart from other owl species:
Size
Great Horned Owls are one of the largest owl species in North America. They have a stocky, barrel-shaped build with broad shoulders and a large head. Their height ranges from 18-25 inches (46-64 cm) and they have a wingspan of 3.3-5.5 feet (1-1.7 meters). Their size allows them to prey on a wide variety of animals including rabbits, skunks, geese, herons, and even small house cats! Stolas matches the imposing stature of a typical Great Horned Owl.
Plumage
The plumage of Great Horned Owls can vary somewhat across their range but they generally have similar markings. Their most distinctive feature is their ear tufts, which are tufts of feathers on top of their head that look like horns or ears. Stolas has prominent ear tufts that are a key Great Horned Owl trait. Great Horned Owls have mottled brown-gray upperparts with bars and streaks. The underside is generally light with brown barring. Some individuals can be rufous or dark brown overall. The eyes are yellow and the beak and talons are black.
Facial Disk
Like all owls, Great Horned Owls have a facial disk, which is a flat face with distinct feathers around the eyes. This dish shape helps direct sound to their ears so they can precisely locate prey. Stolas has the broad facial disk typical of the species.
Range and Habitat
Another clue that Stolas is a Great Horned Owl is found in where he is found:
Wide Distribution
Great Horned Owls have the most widespread distribution of any owl in the Americas. They can be found from the Arctic to South America and occupy a wide range of habitats including forests, deserts, wetlands, backyards, and cities. Stolas’s ability to live in urban areas aligns with the adaptability of Great Horned Owls.
Forest Edges
Within their range, Great Horned Owls often inhabit forest edges, whether those between woods and open land or between different forest types. They perch on snags and nest in the branches of dead trees with good views of clearings. Stolas is right at home on the borders between habitat types.
Diet
Great Horned Owls are opportunistic predators and scavengers. They have extremely varied diets that include:
- Rodents like mice, voles, and squirrels
- Hares and rabbits
- Birds from chickadees to geese
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Fish
- Insects
- Bats
- Carrion already dead
Stolas is shown hunting and eating rodents, birds, and insects, all typical Great Horned Owl prey. His flexible diet matches the generalist feeding strategy of the species.
Reproduction
Great Horned Owls begin nesting very early, with pairs performing duets and selecting nest sites in late winter. Other details of the Great Horned Owl breeding process include:
- Nests are often in abandoned hawk, crow, or squirrel nests high in trees
- Females lay 1-3 eggs in late winter/early spring
- Both parents incubate eggs for ~1 month
- Young owlets hatch asynchronously over days
- Owlets fledge at 6-7 weeks but are fed by parents until 3 months
While little is known about Stolas’s family life, the early seasonal breeding and use of old nests is consistent with typical Great Horned Owl reproduction.
Vocalizations
The calls of Great Horned Owls are iconic and often used in movies to convey a sense of mystery or foreboding. They have a deep, resonant hoot:
- Territorial males have a loud, low 5-note hoot “hoo-hu hu-hoo-hoo”
- Females make a higher pitched 2-note call
- When mating, pairs vocalize in antiphonal duets
- Nestlings give raspy screeches when begging for food
Stolas gives bold hoots as warnings or threats, matching the territorial male’s typical call. His ability to vocalize loudly advertises his presence and species.
Taxonomy
There are 19-20 recognized subspecies of Great Horned Owl across their range:
| Subspecies | Range |
|---|---|
| B. v. virginianus | Eastern North America |
| B. v. lagophonus | Coastal northwest North America |
| B. v. pallescens | California and Baja |
| B. v. subarcticus | Northern forests |
Without more details on Stolas’s specific origins, we can’t pin down the exact subspecies. But he clearly falls within the Bubo virginianus species as a whole.
Symbolism and Folklore
Across human cultures, owls like Stolas have accumulated rich symbolic meanings:
- Associated with wisdom, knowledge, and erudition
- Seen as a guide between the material and spiritual realm
- Owl calls believed to signify the approach of death or disaster
- linked to witchcraft, magic, and the supernatural world
- Seen as the companion of the Roman goddess Minerva
Stolas appears in the famous compendium on demonology from the 17th century, The Lesser Key of Solomon. He is depicted as a Great Horned Owl with powerful wisdom. This lore reinforces the connection between Stolas and the Great Horned Owl species.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of his physical features, range, diet, breeding habits, vocalizations, taxonomy, and cultural affiliations, the mysterious Stolas strongly matches the profile of a Great Horned Owl. His large size, ear tufts, barred plumage, broad facial disk, adaptable diet, early nesting, deep hoots, and ties to supernatural wisdom all point clearly to his identity as a member of that widespread yet iconic American owl species. Stolas likely has some magical talents, but even without them, he represents a standard example of the unique traits and capabilities of the Great Horned Owls found throughout the Americas.
