Using thresholds to determine priorities for apex predator conservation in an urban landscape

•Urban powerful owls have small home ranges compared to their non-urban counterparts.•Home range size and positioning is driven by tree and urban land cover.•Core range habitat is restricted to tree cover with limited impervious surfaces and housing.•Owl home ranges are less likely to occur in areas of high property density.•Thresholds can ensure preferred habitat conditions for species are protected.