“Great Gray Owl, Magisterial Giant of the North”

The “Wise Old Owl” stereotype feels fitting for this dapper owl, dressed in gray with a white ‘beard’ and ‘eyebrows’ on his expressive facial disc. He is one of the few species of owls with asymmetrical ear cavities, helping him hunt by sound with precision. He can be seen floating quietly over a meadow or opening in evergreen forests, another boreal forest inhabitant. They are nonmigratory but occasionally migrate further south in search of food. 

Though the tallest owl, he is just a ball of fluff; other owls weigh more with larger feet and talons. Hence, they only hunt small mammals such as voles, pocket gophers, mice, moles, chipmunks, and lemmings. They hunt at night and during the day from perches where they listen intently for small mammals moving under the snow. Once they detect a small mammal, they hover above the snow and plunge talons first into the snow to grab it. Despite weighing only 2.5 pounds, they are powerful and can break through hard-packed snow to grab a small mammal. One bird reportedly broke through snow hard enough to support a 176-pound human.

Adults may visit a potential nest site two or more weeks before they settle on it, often close to a field or other open area. They often reuse the same nest site for several years and use old raptor or Common Raven nests. Great Gray Owls are active at night, at dusk, and at dawn. They also hunt during the day, especially when they have nestlings or during the winter months. They forage in meadows where voles and other small mammals are abundant. They glide low over these open areas with slow, quiet wingbeats, listening and looking for small mammals. They have excellent hearing and can find prey by hearing alone—even under thick snow—thanks to asymmetrical ear openings that help them triangulate sound with great precision. Males and females form pairs during the breeding season but don’t stay together during the nonbreeding season. Males and females defend their nest sites from other owls and raptors.

Their northern range and elusive habits make it hard to estimate population sizes. However, risks for Great Gray owls are similar to other owls’ risks, including loss of forested areas for breeding and nesting, pesticide use in their food supply, and climate change. Additionally, these birds are highly sought-after by birding photographers and are sensitive to disturbance and encroachment—sometimes harmed and even killed. These birds require a respectful distance and space to move. 

Sources: Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Original mixed media on raw stretched canvas with hard maple float frame.

Alternative hardwood frame available upon request at no extra cost. Email with inquiries.