Great Gray Owl

Scientists in 2010 documented yosemites great gray owl strix nebulosa yosemitensis as genetically distinct from the great gray owl in western north america strix nebulosa nebulosa.

Great gray owl. Great gray owl a big nightbird haunting woods of the far north and certain high mountains of the west. Although the great gray owl is one of the tallest owls in the us its just a ball of feathers. The species name nebulosa is derived from the latin nebulosus meaning misty or foggy. Great gray owls arent just north american owls.

Photo gallery 17 pictures. The bill is dark gunmetal gray as are the talons. Their bulk is mostly made of feathers. From way above in the wintry treetops great grey owls can hear a teeny tiny vole digging underneath the snow.

They can be found in areas of alaska and canada. It is distributed across the northern hemisphere and it is the only species in the genus strix found in both eastern and western hemispheres. The great grey owl is found scattered around north america. They have large heads without ear tufts large facial disks and yellow eyes.

Both the great horned owl and snowy owl weigh more than a great gray owl and they have larger feet and talons. This owl is the provincial bird emblem of manitoba canada. It has very thick fluffy plumage and its body size is smaller than it would appear so it preys mostly on tiny rodents. Great grays are one of our tallest owls and have broad wings and a long tail.

They tend to move in a southern direction in the colder times of the year. All great horned owls have a facial disc. They are big headed owls with a large facial disk. Females are larger than males.

The great grey owl is large grey owl with dense fluffy plumage long wings and tail and a large head with no ear tufts. The feathers on the feet of the great horned owl are the second longest known in any owl after the snowy owl. Its great size is partly illusion. Even tropical great horned owls have feathered legs and feet.

In addition to genetic differences behavioral differences appear to exist in the yosemite subspecies. They also live in scandinavia russia siberia and mongolia. The plumage of great gray owls is finely mottled and streaked and the owls have distinctive black and white markings on their throats. The great grey owl or great gray owl strix nebulosa is a very large owl documented as the worlds largest species of owl by length.