General

Great Gray Owl: Very large owl with dark gray body interspersed with bars and flecks of brown, pale gray, and white. Head is large and without ear tufts. Eyes are yellow and relatively small. Bulky appearance when perching is due to dense, fluffy plumage, long wings extending past body, and relatively long tail. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Great Gray Owl: Found from Alaska across Canada, down the northern Rocky Mountains, and in northern Minnesota; also in northern Europe and Asia. Preferred habitats include stunted coniferous forests along the edge of the Arctic treeline and mixed or coniferous forests.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

Bold, deep, booming sound that sounds like hoo-hoo-hooo.

Interesting Facts

 The Great Gray Owl was first described by Johann Reinhold Forster in 1772. They have also been called the Phantom of the north, Spectral Owl, Lapland Owl, Spruce Owl, Bearded Owl and Sooty Owl.

 When hot, they will pant and droop their wings, exposing an unfeathered area called an apterid.

 They have been known to drive off predators as large as black bears when defending their nest.

 A group of owls has many collective nouns, including "a bazaar of owls", "a glaring of owls", "a parliament of owls", "a stooping of owls", and a "wisdom of owls."

Author

Gary Owen Dick