Great Gray Owl Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGreat Gray Owl
Adult (American)
A big and tall owl with a large round head. Silvery gray overall—patterned with fine white, gray, and brown streaking and faint barring. Across the neck sits a white “bow tie” with a black center.
© Chris WoodMinnesota, January 26, 2005Adult (Lapland)
Occurs in boreal forest across northern Eurasia and northern North America.
© Matti Rekilä / Macaulay LibraryUusimaaAdult
Large, big-headed owl with yellow eyes and a tiny bill. Perches quietly on the edges of meadows or forest openings.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 26, 2013Adult (American)
Large owl with broad, rounded wings. Quietly floats on broad wings across meadows and openings in evergreen forests.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuebecJuvenile (Lapland)
Juvenile has yellow eyes, barred upperparts, and large-headed appearance of adult.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibrarySakhaAdult (American)
Hunts by hovering above the snow, and plunging talons first into the snow to grab small mammals. Note large head, yellow eyes, and black-and-white bowtie.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuebecAdult (American)
Nests in old raptor or Common Raven nests; or in the broken tops of dead trees, human-made platforms, or in clumps of mistletoe.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaskaAdult (American)
Large, big-headed owl with yellow eyes and a black-and-white bowtie across the neck.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryOntarioSimilar SpeciesSpotted Owl
Adult (California)
Spotted Owls are smaller than Great Gray Owls and have dark brown plumage and dark eyes while Great Gray Owls have grayer plumage and yellow eyes.
© Max Leibowitz / Macaulay LibraryCaliforniaSimilar SpeciesBarred Owl
Adult (Northern)
Barred Owls are smaller than Great Gray Owls and have dark eyes while Great Gray Owls have yellow eyes.
© Sean Fitzgerald / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, January 30, 2017Similar SpeciesGreat Horned Owl
Adult (Great Horned)
Great Horned Owls have prominent ear tufts that Great Gray Owls lack and have a cinnamon facial disc.
© Tony V / Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 17, 2017Similar SpeciesSnowy Owl
Adult female/immature male
Snowy Owls are much whiter than Great Gray Owls with a pure white facial disc.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, January 12, 2014Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae)
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