Great grey owl

Strix nebulosa

Size: 61–84 cm · 0.6–1.9 kg
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Sociality: Solitary
Lifespan: —

A large boreal owl with a huge round facial disk and small yellow eyes, locating rodents beneath snow by sound.

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Key facts

Great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) is a carnivore animal classified as Bird · Strigiformes · Strigidae.
Primary habitats are forest · polar · freshwater, with a range across Nearctic · Palearctic.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A large boreal owl with a huge round facial disk and small yellow eyes, locating rodents beneath snow by sound.
Lives in northern conifer forest, wet openings, clearings, and bog edges, needing open hunting areas near nesting woods.

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

Lives in northern conifer forest, wet openings, clearings, and bog edges, needing open hunting areas near nesting woods.

Appearance

The bird looks massive because of thick feathers, though it is not extremely heavy. Fine gray barring, a large facial disk, and a white throat patch stand out.

Behavior

It watches quietly from perches and plunges onto prey hidden under snow or grass. Activity is strongest from dusk through night.

Feeding

Voles and other small mammals dominate. When prey is scarce, birds may wander widely to find better hunting areas.

Reproduction

Old raptor or corvid nests and broken tree tops are used, with little extra material added. Chicks depend on prey delivered by adults.

Notes

Globally low-risk; forest management that retains old nesting structures and nearby open hunting habitat is important.