# Great Gray Owl (*Strix nebulosa*) The Great Gray Owl is a big, beautiful bird with soft gray feathers and bright yellow eyes. It loves to hunt in the dark and can see very well at night, making it a special nighttime friend in the forest. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Great Gray Owl](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Strix_nebulosa_CT.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strix_nebulosa_CT.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Gray Owl is a large, imposing owl with a striking, round gray head and no ear tufts. Its distinct facial disc of concentric rings, bright yellow eyes, and a prominent black chin spot (like a bow tie) make it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Strix ## Interesting facts - Great Gray Owls often use old nests built by other large birds, like hawks. - Their huge fluffy feathers make them look even bigger than they actually are. - They are North America's tallest owl, standing up to 33 inches! - They have a black "bow-tie" mark under their chin that looks quite fancy! ## Special abilities - **Super Senses:** Great Gray Owls can hear tiny prey moving under deep snow, helping them hunt even in winter. - **Silent Hunter:** Great Gray Owls have specialized feather edges that allow them to fly almost completely silently, surprising prey. - **Head Swivel:** The Great Gray Owl can rotate its head nearly 270 degrees to scan its surroundings without moving its body. - **Snow Breaker:** Great Gray Owls possess powerful talons and strong legs to dive headfirst through crusty snow to catch prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 61-84 cm - **Wingspan:** 130-152 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.8 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 28-36 days ## Diet & Feeding These expert hunters primarily feast on small mammals like voles, using their incredible hearing to find prey. - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Shrews, Mice, Pocket Gophers, Small Birds - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Primary prey, especially active under snow. - **Hunts:** Northern Red-backed Vole (*Myodes rutilus*) — Common prey in dense forest habitats. - **Hunts:** Masked Shrew (*Sorex cinereus*) — Frequent small mammal prey item. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Predates eggs, nestlings, and sometimes adult owls. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see an owl, watch quietly from a distance and do not try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Gray Owl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great Gray Owl? 61-84 cm ### What is Great Gray Owl's wingspan? 130-152 cm ### How much does Great Gray Owl weigh? 0.7-1.8 kg ### How long does Great Gray Owl live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Great Gray Owl move? 40 km/h ### What does Great Gray Owl eat? These expert hunters primarily feast on small mammals like voles, using their incredible hearing to find prey. ### Where is Great Gray Owl usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Lake Fish Hatchery Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-fish-hatchery-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Menor's Ferry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/menors-ferry) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mountain Home Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mountain-home-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Old Administrative Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-administrative-area-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Thüringer Waldzoo Gera](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thuringer-waldzoo-gera) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Great Gray Owl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-gray-owl) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Great Gray Owl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-gray-owl)