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Great Gray Owl

Strix nebulosa

Published on Project Noah
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47.2214, -92.7013

Field Notes

Description:

This large owl's size is partially attributable to its fluffy feathers. Still, it is a very impressive bird of prey. Its head is large and rounded. Predominant color is gray or grayish brown.

Habitat:

Generally associated with boreal forests. In some winters when prey populations crash, these big birds head south in what is known as an "irruption", in an attempt to find food.

Reference Links:

Great Grey Owl

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
Gordon Dietzman
Thanks everyone for your nice comments on this spotting. Christy, I think we got up to only 90 plus three times last summer. Mosquitos, well, yes. But they're as big as birds and relatively easy to swat....grin. Humid, yep, sometimes, but it is much worse in other places and we've always got the north woods to retreat to or Lake Superior that keeps things pretty cool. This year we only got a foot of snow or so in our area--a pathetic winter....grin. It's pretty amazing how big these owls look--they're huge, but the body is surprisingly small under all those feathers.
Apple
Absolutely wonderful photo. I just love owls.
ChristyHolland
Nice...except for the summer heat, winter cold, humidity, snow, and don't forget the mosquitoes!!!! (grew up there!) Really nice photo! Great Grey's actually are the TALLEST owl in North America...but they're all fluff! Helps keep them warm in -60F weather! ;-)
Gordon Dietzman
Had to chuckle at that Donna...grin. Minnesota is a great place; it can get really bitterly cold (I mean Alaska cold with temps down to -60 F), but most of the time it's really pretty nice.
DonnaPomeroy
Spectacular photo and magnificent bird. These are so rare in California that I have only been lucky enough to see one. Makes Minnesota in winter seem quite attractive.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Minnesota Wildlife (Animals)
Mission
Raptors of North America

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMarch 4, 2012

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