Among the largest in its family, the Great Gray Owl holds the title as North America’s longest owl species. This majestic bird’s size, coloration, and range have inspired a host of nicknames, including Spectral Owl, Lapland Owl, Spruce Owl, and Sooty Owl. The Great Gray’s lightly mottled plumage, speckled with lighter gray, tan, and white, allows it to blend beautifully into the wooded environments it favors. Its large head lacks ear tufts, and it has an especially large facial disk and piercing

The Great Gray Owl is one of the tallest owls in North America. Despite its massive size, this owl is mostly feathers. In winter, it can punch straight through hard-packed snow to grab prey it can’t even see. With asymmetrical ears, the Great Gray Owl can hear the faintest movement under layers of snow and pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from. It hunts purely by sound, turning silence into a superpower. And to fuel its winter survival, it eats up to seven small mammals a day. #GreatGrayOwl #O