Birdsong field guide
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
The Great Gray Owl is one of the world's largest owls by length, characterized by its massive concentric facial disk and silvery-gray plumage. It is a specialized silent hunter of the northern boreal forests, capable of locating prey by sound alone.
What it sounds like
A series of very deep, resonant, and rhythmic low-pitched hoots that typically drop in pitch toward the end.
Field notes
- It is the tallest North American owl, yet it weighs significantly less than a Great Horned Owl due to its voluminous, insulating feathers.
- Its exceptionally large facial disk acts as a parabolic reflector, funnelling sound to its ears to detect rodents moving under two feet of snow.
- The species is known to plunge-dive into snow with enough force to break through crusts capable of supporting a human's weight.
- They rarely build their own nests, instead opting to reuse abandoned stick nests of ravens or other large raptors.
- Despite their imposing physical stature, their diet consists almost exclusively of small mammals, primarily voles.
Habitat
Dense boreal forests, montane coniferous woods, and adjacent subalpine meadows.
Range
Holarctic distribution across Alaska, Canada, the northern United States, Northern Europe, and Asia.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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