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Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)
Comments: The Great Gray Owl... How do I introduce such a bird? The largest North American owl--though the Great Horned Owl is more massive--is a resident of the remote boreal forests of Canada, and of some remote areas of the western U.S. In some winters, such as this year's, large numbers of Great Grays and other northern owls migrate south in search of better hunting. This year has brought about an unprecedented invasion to areas like Minnesota, and good numbers to Ontario, where these photos were taken. While nocturnal and crepuscular (active at twilight), the Great Gray is often active by day. It is rather fearless and oblivious to human approach: the birds shown here continued to hunt, unconcerned with our presence. Their huge facial disks complement their incredible hearing, allowing them to hunt small mammals even hidden below inches of snow. Its call is a very deep and booming "hoo, hoo, hoo."
