The Great Grey Owl

By Al Lowe
Contributor

This bird is the largest owl in North America. Its measurements are quite impressive for a bird, 2 1/2 feet from head to tail, and a wingspan of about five feet.
Most people, when they think about owls at all, will picture the Horned Owl with its prominent 'ears' , or the Snowy Owl, which is often around these parts in the winter - a large whitish bird on a post or tree stump. I would guess that not many people have seen the Great Grey Owl. It is certainly not common anywhere, but it is native to Northern Ontario, breeds here, and stays around all winter.
If you should be fortunate enough to see this owl, it will be easy to recognize. The general impression, as its name suggests, is of a very large grey bird. Its eyes are yellow, and its face is very rounded. Each eye seems to be set in a large disc of feathers. The face feathers make a distinct pattern of circles, centered on each eye. It has a very black chin, like a goatee, and a prominent white 'mustache.' You will not likely see this bird in the summer, when it sticks to the deeper woods. In winter it often hunts in the open fields, using posts and hillocks as observations posts. So it is quite possible to see it then. They are not very shy of people, so you might be able to get quite close.
This is very definitely a northern bird. It ranges from Alaska and the Yukon east to the north of Lake Huron. It does not breed south of the border very much except in the western mountains down to California. Like many owls, it wanders very far afield sometimes, and there have been rare sightings as far east as Nova Scotia.
If you should hear a deep, booming series of three hoots - "Whoo-hoo-hoo," then you are likely listening to the Great Grey Owl. The Great Horned Owl, which is our other big owl which hoots, usually calls in a series of five or more, quite distinct hoots. In the last few years, the Great Grey has been seen in the Rainy River District, and probably along the north shore of Lake Superior as well.
This owl is another one of our most beneficial predators. Its food consists mainly of rabbits, mice, voles, squirrels, hares and so on, along with some of the smaller birds from time to time. These predacious birds are very prominent in preventing massive outbreaks of rabbits and mice, which tend to occur every few years.
You are not really very likely to see the Great Grey Owl. It is quite uncommon anywhere in its range. Its scientific name is Strix nebulosa. Some of you will recognize the Latin word from which comes our English 'nebulous.' That word may very well describe this large but rather mysterious bird - our biggest owl.