Great grey owl
Strix nebulosa lapponica
We currently have two great grey owls in our collection: a male named Edwin, who arrived in September 2011, and his daughter, Zooni.
Great grey owls are the largest owl to inhabit the Northern Hemisphere. One of the most distinctive features of the great grey owl is its oversized facial disk - a circular arrangement of feathers that works like a satellite dish. This remarkable adaptation directs sound toward the owl’s ears, allowing it to pinpoint the exact location of prey hidden beneath snow or foliage, even without seeing it. With this finely tuned sense of hearing, great grey owls are highly effective hunters, perfectly adapted to their cold and often silent surroundings.
Despite their imposing size, much of their bulk is made up of thick feathers rather than body mass. These dense layers of plumage help insulate them against the freezing temperatures of the boreal forests and tundra they call home.
Population
Increasing
Diet
Carnivore
Habitat
Forest
Fact file
Great grey owls have specialised wing feathers that reduce noise, allowing them to fly silently and sneak up on prey without being detected
They can have a wingspan of up to five feet, making them one of the largest owls in the world
They typically nest in tall trees such as spruces or pines. But they don’t build their own – they use old nests built by other large birds
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care, our great grey owls are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the park and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation