The abundance of food in the area usually affects the number of eggs a female lays, a feature quite common in northern owl species. Seeing a snowy owl is a highlight for even the most-experienced birders. The great grey owl is not as aggressive as most other alpha predators. Nesting may occur from March to May. The length ranges from 61 to 84 cm (24 to 33 in), averaging 72 cm (28 in) for females and 67 cm (26 in) for males. Large, big-headed owl with yellow eyes and a black-and-white bowtie across the neck. Unlike the more versatile eagle and horned owls, great grey owls rely almost fully upon small rodents. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Welcome Center is located west of Cotton and north of Meadowlands — at 8793 Owl Avenue, Toivola, Minnesota — about 1.75 miles south of the Arkola Road on Owl Avenue. Normally the male hunts for his mate and the young throughout the nesting period. This species is not known to scavenge or steal from other predators. They frequently hunt from a low listening post which can be a stump, low tree limb, fence post, or road sign. Nests in old raptor or Common Raven nests; or in the broken tops of dead trees, human-made platforms, or in clumps of mistletoe. Brooding lasts 2 to 3 weeks, after which the female starts roosting on a tree near nests. The Great Gray Owl is a dapper owl dressed in a gray suit with a bow tie across its neck and a surprised look on its face. ... Night Owl Quilting & Dye Works. Retrieved 26 November 2013. Only a handful of great gray owl nests have ever been found in Washington state. [17], A captive wild injured great grey owl, Boris, resides at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska. "Lady Grayl, Owl with a Mission". Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. A big nightbird, haunting woods of the far north and certain high mountains of the west. (2007). In northern Canada and other parts of Scandinavia, they eat lemmings primarily. There is a white collar or "bow tie" just below the beak. Note large head, yellow eyes, and black-and-white bowtie. Males and females look similar. As an exception, the female is aggressive in protecting eggs and owlets. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Other dangers to great grey owls include rodenticides, collisions with vehicles, and West Nile Virus. Great Gray Owls spend their time in dense evergreen pine and fir forests with small openings or meadows nearby. [9] Great grey owls are rarely sighted as far south as Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York. Perches quietly on the edges of meadows or forest openings. A study of the Yosemite owls shows that this population has been genetically isolated from populations in Oregon and farther north for over 25,000 years. A big and tall owl with a large round head. A snowy owl will often stay in the same general area for weeks or longer. Typical call - North Karelia, Finland. Canadian guard Carr takes his mental and physical game to a new level at Minnesota. Nebulosa Press, Ashland, Oregon. April 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. [14] The only known predator of adult great grey owls is the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), which occasionally preys on the former in parts of Europe.[15]. Eggs average 42.7 mm (1.68 in) wide and 53.5 mm (2.11 in) long. They are permanent residents, although northerly populations may move south and southeast when food is scarce. It is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, and it is the only species in the genus Strix found in both Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Breeders and bird rescues gray overall—patterned with fine white, gray, and brown streaking and faint barring collisions! 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