Great Grey Owl
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Birds (Aves)
- Dietary Niche: Carnivore (Voles, pocket gophers, mice)
- Max Speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Adult Weight: 0.7 - 1.7 kg (1.5 - 3.7 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
- Primary Habitat: Dense boreal pine forests, muskeg bogs, montane meadows
- Native Region: Northern Eurasia and North America
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Strix |
| Species Binomial | Strix nebulosa |
📖 1. Species Overview
The Great Grey Owl is the largest owl by length in the world. Despite its massive fluffy appearance, it is mostly feathers, possessing the largest facial disc of any raptor to funnel sound directly into its ears.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Large round head with a giant grey facial disc, yellow eyes, white neck bow-tie patch, and dense mottled grey fur-like feathers.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Nocturnal and crepuscular. They hunt from perches overlooking meadows, swooping into deep snow.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Locate small rodents moving underneath two feet of hard snow using hearing alone, plunging feet-first into snowdrifts.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Nest in abandoned hawk or raven stick nests, laying 2-5 white eggs in early spring.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Least Concern, though sensitive to boreal forest clear-cut logging.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Great grey owls can hear a vole moving beneath 60 cm (2 feet) of solid snow cover and plunge through snow crust to catch it.
- Although it appears larger than a Great Horned Owl, it actually weighs half as much, consisting mostly of insulating feathers.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Great Grey Owl.
The Great Grey Owl is scientifically classified as Strix nebulosa. It belongs to the genus Strix within the family Strigidae, class Aves, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Great Grey Owls inhabit Dense boreal pine forests, muskeg bogs, montane meadows. Their native geographic range primarily spans Northern Eurasia and North America.
The Great Grey Owl is classified as a Carnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Dense boreal pine forests, muskeg bogs, montane meadows.
A Great Grey Owl can achieve top speeds of 50 km/h (31 mph) and weighs approximately 0.7 - 1.7 kg (1.5 - 3.7 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 10 - 15 years.
The Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) is currently designated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) Species Profile."
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