Both parents feed their young, tearing food into small pieces beforehand. The Great Gray Owl lays eggs from March to June, depending on the temperature in its habitat. Habitat destruction is the most pressing danger to this bird, as they live only in densely wooded areas. It may also live near brackish tidal meadows. While she is incubating the eggs, the male brings her food. They hunt a wide variety of foods, but most of their diet comes from small rodents. Grays also hunt along the edges of Arctic tundra, meadows, bogs, and marsh, but always in close proximity to woodlands. Gray Owls are large birds with sharp, hooked beaks and sharp talons. Humans have not domesticated Gray Owls in any way. The female lays an average of two eggs per clutch, and incubates them for about a month. The Great Gray Owl is very reclusive and rarely seen by humans. It takes another week or two before the chicks can fly efficiently. What goes in, must come out, both ends! Great Grays are imposing birds to say the least. These birds live throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. They have grey feathers, and their faces are quite round. Occasionally, it will also eat small mammals, such as shrews, and birds. The species name nebulosa is derived from the Latin Nebulosus, meaning misty or foggy. Good hearing allows the owl to accurately locate prey below several feet of snow. Once the chicks replace their down with true feathers, they begin learning to fly. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. In a nest made of sticks, the female lays 2 to 5 white eggs. In zoos, Gray Owls live in large enclosures with plenty of space for them to explore. They are quite large, and most individuals stand over two feet tall. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern. The Great Grey Owl is large grey owl with dense, fluffy plumage, long wings and tail, and a large head with no ear-tufts. Additionally, it is also illegal in most places to own any owl species as a pet. They mostly hunt voles, but will also eat gophers, weasels, squirrels, rabbits, rats and mice. Human activity threatens this species in some areas. Not only do they live deep within woodlands and forests, but they are also very shy birds. Some of their most common prey items include mice, voles, rats, gophers, lemmings, and chipmunks. A dusty gray color, the Great Gray Owl has a large, flat facial disk and no ear tufts. Good hearing allows the owl to accurately locate prey below several feet of snow. Often, the only sign a Great Gray Owl is in the area is a "plunge mark", an imprint in the snow from which the owl has taken its prey. They also live in northeast Europe, and throughout Russia and northern China and Mongolia. Found from Alaska through Canada, the Great Gray Owl is also found in Europe and Asia. Different populations live in different regions within their overall range. It prefers to make a nest in large, old pine and fir trees in spots far from human development. The Great Gray Owl is found in dense, coniferous forests in Canada and in mountain forests in the western United States. Their populations are somewhat fragmented based on available habitat. Read on to learn about the Gray Owl. Thanks to the great horned owl’s exceptional hunting skills and super strength, anything that moves in the darkness any animal at all, becomes the prey of the heaviest owl in Central America. Cocking its head as it listens for the tunneling of rodents beneath deep snow, the Great Gray Owl, with its incredible hearing, can detect prey over 100 meters away. As their name suggests, these birds have gray plumage, with light colored dappling. The primary diet of great gray owls is rodents and such other small mammals. They spend their time hunting, and males bring females food as the breeding season approaches. To hunt, the Great Gray Owl perches on a tree overlooking an open area. As a whole, their global population numbers are stable, though regional populations vary in number. It takes about a month for the chicks to begin learning how to fly. It is very unlikely that you will ever see a Gray Owl in the wild. T he great horned owl’s diet is probably as diverse as its habitat.Over time the owl has evolved to occupy its ecological niche by expanding the food base. They hunt a wide variety of foods, but most of their diet comes from small rodents. Chicks in this stage can be seen walking on the top of their nest flapping their wings. This species has somewhat specific habitat preferences. The Gray Owl, also known as the Great Gray Owl, is a large owl species that lives in the Northern Hemisphere. This ‘Phantom of the north’, the largest owl, is a rare but magnificent sight to watch. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. Most of the Great Gray Owl's diet is made up of small rodents like voles and pocket gophers. Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa St. Louis, Minnesota, United States Photo © Greg Hottman/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab. Much of their habitat is in higher elevations or mountainous regions. Photo Gallery (17 pictures) In the stillness of a cold mountain meadow the elusive giant quietly floats on broad wings across meadows and openings in evergreen forests. However, though they are large, they are not particularly heavy for their size, and usually max out at 3.75 lbs. After three to four weeks, the chicks leave the nest for good. long, and their wingspan is a whopping 5 ft. across. From its perch, the Great Gray Owl plunges through the snow to capture its prey. Occasionally, it will also eat small mammals, such as shrews, and birds. From its perch, the Great Gray Owl plunges through the snow to capture its prey. In exchange for this extra exercise, the owls get yummy morsels of mouse, rat, and more. Unlike some species, like the great horned and screech owls, these birds do not have ear tufts.