Great Gray Owl

Strix nebulosa ORDER: STRIGIFORMES FAMILY: STRIGIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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. In the stillness of a cold mountain meadow the elusive giant quietly floats on broad wings across meadows and openings in evergreen forests. They are mostly owls of the boreal forest with small populations in western mountains, but in some years they move farther south in search of food, giving some a unique opportunity to see this majestic owl.

Songs

Male territorial hooting

Recorded by Peyton, Leonard J
Alaska April 1973

Macaulay Library

During the breeding season (roughly from March–July), males and females give a low-pitched series of resonating hoos that last for 6–8 seconds with about 30 seconds between calls. The male’s vocalization is lower pitched than the female’s.

Calls

Defensive or warning hooting

Recorded by Herr, David S
Oregon March 1990
Defensive or warning hooting of female

Recorded by Lang Elliott
Male contact hoot

Recorded by Herr, David S
Minnesota June 1993
Female contact "whoop"

Recorded by Lang Elliott
Female contact "g-wuk"

Recorded by Peyton, Leonard J
Minnesota June 1993
Distraction calls

Recorded by Lang Elliott
Manitoba, Canada June 1993
Agitated call by a female after a distraction display

Recorded by Lang Elliott
Manitoba, Canada June 1993
Fledgling begging call and adult exclamatory hoots

Recorded by Budney, Gregory F
Wyoming August 1996
Food exchange at nest site

Recorded by Lang Elliot
Minnesota June 1993
Fledgling begging call

Recorded by Budney, Gregory F
Wyoming August 1996

Macaulay Library

Adults also make a soft double hoot when defending territories or during food delivery.

Search the Macaulay Library online archive for more sounds and videos

Backyard Tips

If you are lucky enough to live within the range of the Great Gray Owl, you can build a nest structure to attract a breeding pair. Make sure you put it up well before breeding season. You'll find plans for building a nest structure of the appropriate size on our All About Birdhouses site.

Find This Bird

The Great Gray Owl is an elusive bird that is not easy to find, despite its size. Your best chance of seeing one is during an irruptive year when it comes south in search of food. Join your local birding group email listserv and watch rare bird alters to know when one has been sighted near you. You can also use the eBird species maps tool to find areas where other birders reported them in the past to try your luck at finding one. In these areas slowly walk the perimeter of a meadow or other opening looking for dark figures in trees. Pay particular attention to dead trees and don’t forget to look at all levels in the trees as they can sometimes perch fairly low. To catch them hunting, make sure to get out in the right habitat before dawn or dusk. Because Great Gray Owls are highly sought-after by birders and photographers who want to see the birds, and are sensitive to disturbance, don’t use call playbacks to find them. Using mice to bait or lure in owls (of any species) should be avoided all together.