Great Gray Owl

COMMON NAME: Great Gray Owl

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Strix nebulosa

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
The tallest owl (approximately 22 inches tall) in North America, it has yellow eyes, no ear tufts, and is all gray with white streaks. Two large concentric discs dominate its face. Only the barred owl resembles it, but the color of the eyes is diagnostic.

RANGE:
Found from Alaska across Canada, down the northern Rocky Mountains, and northern Minnesota. This owl is also found in northern Europe and the Soviet Union.

HABITAT:
An owl of northern coniferous forests, often around bogs.

NESTING:
The great gray owl nests in abandoned hawk or raven nests, on the top of old snags, and in Europe, sometimes on the forest floor. This owl will use artificial nest structures.

FEEDING HABITS:
Feeds primarily on small rodents, which it catches in winter by diving through the snow.

RAPTOR CENTER DATA:
An uncommon patient, but a few are received each year. They often do not eat right away in captivity and are subject to stress.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
An uncommon owl restricted mostly by lack of appropriate habitat. There is no special status afforded the great gray owl in Minnesota.

Other Web Resources:

Stories

• 2004 News Release: Raptor Center Seeing an Unusually High Number of Injured Owls; May Be Indication of "Owl Invasion"
• February 16,1996: Minnesota great gray owl invasion

Animated GIFs

• Owl eyes: shows a nictitating membrane, an owl's second eyelid

Teacher Lesson Plans

• "Radical Raptors"
  • See an owl in-flight silhouette

Great Gray Owl Range
Minnesota Ornithologists' Union bird range map

Additional Information (not specifically about great gray owl):
Publications