THE GREAT GREY OWL

 

 

Photographer Jari Peltomaki’s Remarks: Great Grey Owl is my favourite bird species and I have done a lot of photography with them in Finland. I also arrange workshops to photograph them when there is a good situation to photograph them!

The Great Grey Owl or Lapland Owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In some areas it is also called the Great Gray Ghost, Phantom of the north, Cinereous Owl, Spectral Owl, Lapland Owl, Spruce Owl, Bearded Owl and Sooty Owl.

In terms of length, the Great Gray Owl is believed to exceed the Eurasian Eagle-Owl and the Blakiston’s Fish Owl as the world’s largest owl. The Great Gray is outweighed by those two species as well as several others, including most of the Bubo genus. Much of its size is deceptive, since this species’ fluffy feathers, long tail and large head obscure a body lighter than that of most other large owls. The length ranges from 61 to 84 cm (24 to 33 in), averaging 72 cm (27 in) for females and 67 cm (26 in) for males. The wingspan can exceed 152 cm (60 in), but averages 142 cm (56 in) for females and 140 cm (55 in) for males. The adult weight ranges from 580 to 1,900 g (1.3 to 4.2 lb), averaging 1,290 g (2.8 lb) for females and 1,000 g (2.2 lb) for males. The males are usually smaller than females, as in most owl species. [Source]