Great Horned Owl

Christmas Eve visitor out on the back deck! Bone-chilling but magnificently beautiful when it opened its eyes! It was gigantic and far larger than photos I've seen of this species on the glove of avian keepers. I guess it was also puffed up due to the cold however, it was at least 20 inches tall just pirched there. Wing-span was incredibly wide when it did finally take off over the houses and reminded me of a batman scene! Kept the little doggie inside that morning!