If she accepts the male, the pair defends a territory and finds a suitable nest. They spend their time hunting, and males bring females food as the breeding season approaches. Their populations are somewhat fragmented based on available habitat. Pairs of owls are most active at night. Human activity threatens this species in some areas. Good hearing allows the owl to accurately locate prey below several feet of snow. Gray Owls are large birds with sharp, hooked beaks and sharp talons. The Great Grey Owl is large grey owl with dense, fluffy plumage, long wings and tail, and a large head with no ear-tufts. It is found in parts of northern Europe and Asia and can be found in North America from Alaska throughout much of Canada and into portions of the United States, including a … They live primarily in dense forests, usually with pine or fir trees. These Owls are actually the longest owl species in the world, but the eagle owl and fish owl are heavier. From its perch, the Great Gray Owl plunges through the snow to capture its prey. In the stillness of a cold mountain meadow the elusive giant quietly floats on broad wings across meadows and openings in evergreen forests. Found from Alaska through Canada, the Great Gray Owl is also found in Europe and Asia. The species name nebulosa is derived from the Latin Nebulosus, meaning misty or foggy. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. They are incredibly large birds, and eat lots of rodents. Errol, the old owl that served the Weasley family in the Harry Potter series, was a Great Gray Owl. Like all owls, Grays are carnivores, and primarily feed on small animals. The Gray Owl, also known as the Great Gray Owl, is a large owl species that lives in the Northern Hemisphere. The Great gray Owl deserves its name because it is the largest owl in North America. They will also take some birds, including thrushes, grouse, and ducks. They tend to hover above the snow and plunge downward by breaking off the hard snow crust, while clenching the prey with their powerful feet. Occasionally, it will also eat small mammals, such as shrews, and birds. They also get many opportunities to fly and stretch their wings both in and out of their enclosure. To hunt, the Great Gray Owl perches on a tree overlooking an open area. As their name suggests, these birds have gray plumage, with light colored dappling. Zookeepers train many owl species to stand on a glove for educational presentations. No, Gray Owls do not make good pets. Variation in the diet of the Great Gray Owl, a specialist predator, at different levels of prey abundance in different biotopes was studied in the middle Transural region. They are quite large, and most individuals stand over two feet tall. Humans have not domesticated Gray Owls in any way. It is between 24 and 33 inches and has a wingspan up to five feet! It prefers to make a nest in large, old pine and fir trees in spots far from human development. Photo Gallery (17 pictures) Diet of the Gray Owl Like all owls, Grays are carnivores, and primarily feed on small animals. The Great Gray Owl is a circumpolar species that generally makes its home in cooler, northern regions. The great grey owl's diet is made up of around 80-90% small rodents. From its perch, the Great Gray Owl plunges through the snow to capture its prey. Good hearing allows the owl to accurately locate prey below several feet of snow. Good hearing allows the owl to accurately locate prey below several feet of snow. Some owls even learn to fly from a glove to a perch, or from person to person, for these presentations. In a nest made of sticks, the female lays 2 to 5 white eggs. To hunt, the Great Gray Owl perches on a tree overlooking an open area. Cocking its head as it listens for the tunneling of rodents beneath deep snow, the Great Gray Owl, with its incredible hearing, can detect prey over 100 meters away. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The Great Gray Owl lays eggs from March to June, depending on the temperature in its habitat. Once the chicks hatch, both parents hunt and bring them food. In North America, they range from the northern United States into Canada and up to Alaska. They have grey feathers, and their faces are quite round. Unlike some species, like the great horned and screech owls, these birds do not have ear tufts. Different populations live in different regions within their overall range. After three to four weeks, the chicks leave the nest for good. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. Additionally, it is also illegal in most places to own any owl species as a pet. These birds live throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. It may also live near brackish tidal meadows. The female lays an average of two eggs per clutch, and incubates them for about a month. When prey is heard, the Great Gray Owl leaves its perch in one fast swoop, diving through the heaviest of snow for a meal. It takes about a month for the chicks to begin learning how to fly. They also live in northeast Europe, and throughout Russia and northern China and Mongolia. The Great Gray Owl is very reclusive and rarely seen by humans. Most Grays use abandoned nests rather than building their own. long, and their wingspan is a whopping 5 ft. across. A dusty gray color, the Great Gray Owl has a large, flat facial disk and no ear tufts. Occasionally, it will also eat small mammals, such as shrews, and birds. Great Grey Owl ~ Strix nebulosa Introduction. Diet. Not only do owls poop a lot, but they also spit up pellets of rodent fur and bones that they cannot digest. Read on to learn about the Gray Owl. This ‘Phantom of the north’, the largest owl, is a rare but magnificent sight to watch. In the continental United States, the owl is found in the higher Rocky Mountains and in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. This species hunts by perching next to an open area, and listening carefully for any movement before swooping down on their prey. Some owls also live in mixed or oak forests. However, though they are large, they are not particularly heavy for their size, and usually max out at 3.75 lbs. Once the chicks replace their down with true feathers, they begin learning to fly. They hunt a wide variety of foods, but most of their diet comes from small rodents. Not only do they live deep within woodlands and forests, but they are also very shy birds. A black spot on its chin surrounded with white marks on either side makes the Great Gray Owl look like it's wearing a bow tie. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. Thanks to the great horned owl’s exceptional hunting skills and super strength, anything that moves in the darkness any animal at all, becomes the prey of the heaviest owl in Central America. It is very unlikely that you will ever see a Gray Owl in the wild. Grays also hunt along the edges of Arctic tundra, meadows, bogs, and marsh, but always in close proximity to woodlands. The primary diet of great gray owls is rodents and such other small mammals. T he great horned owl’s diet is probably as diverse as its habitat.Over time the owl has evolved to occupy its ecological niche by expanding the food base. Some of their most common prey items include mice, voles, rats, gophers, lemmings, and chipmunks. In zoos, Gray Owls live in large enclosures with plenty of space for them to explore. Chicks in this stage can be seen walking on the top of their nest flapping their wings. Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa St. Louis, Minnesota, United States Photo © Greg Hottman/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab. Great Grays are imposing birds to say the least.