Great Grey Owl

Strix nebulosa

Ghosting through boreal forests with eerily silent flight, this massive owl's piercing yellow eyes and distinctive facial disc make it a haunting presence in northern wilderness areas.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Great Grey Owl is a massive, imposing bird with a large, rounded head lacking ear tufts. Its plumage is predominantly grey with brown streaks and bars, featuring a distinctive facial disc with concentric grey circles and striking yellow eyes.

Females are typically larger than males, but plumage is similar. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a slightly browner overall appearance with less defined facial markings. They develop a more adult-like plumage after 5 months.

Size

Length

61cm to 84cm

Wingspan

137cm to 152cm

Weight

790g to 1.454kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Great Grey Owl can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Great Grey Owl can be found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Great Grey Owl is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Great Grey Owls inhabit dense coniferous and mixed forests across the northern hemisphere, including boreal regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer areas with nearby open spaces for hunting.

In North America, they are found in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern United States, with some populations in mountainous areas further south. Seasonal movements are often influenced by prey availability rather than temperature.

Montana’s Glacier National Park and the Bitterroot Valley are known for their Great Grey Owl populations. Similarly, sightings are also regularly reported in Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains and the Panhandle region. To the west, they are also occasionally spotted at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington.

In Canada, the forests and meadows of Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba offer a decent chance of spotting a Great Grey Owl. Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park is known for its diverse resident wildlife, including Great Grey Owls.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,200 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great Grey Owl. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons