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Difference between revisions of "Great Grey Owl" - BirdForum Opus

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;Strix nebulosa
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[[Image:Great_Grey_Owl.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Subspecies ''lapponica''<br />Photo by {{user|Rob|Rob}}<br /> Skummesslövstrand, [[Sweden]], June 2000]]
[[Image:Great_Grey_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Rob.<br/>Photo taken: Skummesslövstrand, [[Sweden]].]]
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;[[:Category:Strix|Strix]] nebulosa
 
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
24-33" (61-84 cm). W. 5' (1.5 m). A huge, dusky gray, earless owl of the North Woods, with yellow eyes, large facial disks, and distinctive black chin spot bordered by white patches, resembling a bow tie. Barred and Spotted owls are smaller, stockier, and browner, with dark eyes.
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*L. 24-33" (61-84 cm)
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*W. 5' (1.5 m)
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*Huge
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*Dusky gray
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*Yellow eyes
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*Large facial disks
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*Distinctive black chin spot bordered by white patches (resembles a bow tie)
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*One of the most elusive of birds, the Great Gray was discovered in America by Europeans before they realized that the species also occurs in Europe.
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====Similar Species====
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[[Image:Great_Grey_Owl_landing_by_s_linste.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''nebulosa''<br /> Photo by {{user|s_linste|s_linste}}<br /> Ile-Bizard, [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], February 2005]]
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[[Barred Owl]] and [[Spotted Owl]] are smaller, stockier, and browner, with dark eyes.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Resident from Alaska and across interior Canada south to northern California, northern Wyoming, Minnesota, and Quebec. In winter wanders rarely southward into northern New England and Great Lakes region. Also in Eurasia.
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[[North America]]: Resident from Alaska and across interior Canada south to northern California, northern Wyoming, Minnesota, and Quebec. In winter wanders rarely southward into northern New England and Great Lakes region. <br />
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[[Eurasia]]: Boreal forest zone from northern [[Scandinavia]] and the [[Baltic States]] to eastern [[Siberia]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Order: Strigiformes<BR>
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Two subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>:
Family: Strigidae<BR>
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*''S. n. nebulosa'':
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:*Boreal forests of northern [[North America]]
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*''S. n. lapponica'':
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:*Boreal forests of northern [[Europe]], northern [[Asia]] and Sakhalin
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Coniferous forests and muskeg
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Coniferous forests and muskeg.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Like other owls of the Far North, this species hunts during the day, often watching for prey from a low perch. Because it spends much of its time in dense conifers, it is often overlooked. One of the most elusive of birds, the Great Gray was discovered in America by Europeans before they realized that the species also occurs in Europe.
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Like other owls of the Far North, this species hunts during the day, often watching for prey from a low perch. Because it spends much of its time in dense conifers, it is often overlooked.
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==References==
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# König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Strix nebulosa" {{!}} "Great Grey Owl"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
==External Links==
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Strix]]
{{GSearch|Strix+nebulosa}}
 
[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:13, 6 February 2023

Subspecies lapponica
Photo by Rob
Skummesslövstrand, Sweden, June 2000
Strix nebulosa

Identification

  • L. 24-33" (61-84 cm)
  • W. 5' (1.5 m)
  • Huge
  • Dusky gray
  • Yellow eyes
  • Large facial disks
  • Distinctive black chin spot bordered by white patches (resembles a bow tie)
  • One of the most elusive of birds, the Great Gray was discovered in America by Europeans before they realized that the species also occurs in Europe.

Similar Species

Subspecies nebulosa
Photo by s_linste
Ile-Bizard, Quebec, Canada, February 2005

Barred Owl and Spotted Owl are smaller, stockier, and browner, with dark eyes.

Distribution

North America: Resident from Alaska and across interior Canada south to northern California, northern Wyoming, Minnesota, and Quebec. In winter wanders rarely southward into northern New England and Great Lakes region.
Eurasia: Boreal forest zone from northern Scandinavia and the Baltic States to eastern Siberia.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized[2]:

  • S. n. nebulosa:
  • S. n. lapponica:
  • Boreal forests of northern Europe, northern Asia and Sakhalin

Habitat

Coniferous forests and muskeg.

Behaviour

Like other owls of the Far North, this species hunts during the day, often watching for prey from a low perch. Because it spends much of its time in dense conifers, it is often overlooked.

References

  1. König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
  2. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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