Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa). Other common names: Chouette lapone (French); Cárabo lapòn (Spanish); Dark Wood-Owl; Lapland Owl; Striped Owl; Spectral Owl; Great Gray Ghost, Phantom of the north, Cinerous Owl, Spruce Owl, Bearded Owl and Sooty Owl. This owl was spotted in the state of Michigan, USA. It is the tallest American owl, ranging from 24-33 inches (61-84 cm) with the largest wingspan of 54-60 inches (137-152 cm). It has a weight range of 1 1/2-4 pounds (700-1800 grams). Females are usually larger than the males.
They can be found in North America from Lake Superior to the Pacific coast and in Alaska, and from Scandinavia across northern Asia. They have been known to move south and southeast when food is scarce. There is a small population, estimated at less than 100 birds, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. That is as far south as they have been known to live.
Their main diet consists primarily of small rodents, which they catch in winter by diving through the snow.
