How Big Are Great Grey Owls? (Wingspan + Size)

Great Gray Owl (Striped Heron) in the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, including the northern United States and parts of Canada, Russia, and northern Asia.

This cold-dwelling bird is exceptionally hardy, able to survive the plunging temperatures of Arctic winters. So, just how big is the Great Gray Owl?

The great gray owl is the largest owl in the world. They are about 61 to 84 cm (2.0 to 2.7 ft) long and have a wingspan of over 152 cm (5 ft 0 in). However, they are not particularly heavy, weighing between 1 and 1.5 kg (2.2 and 3.3 lbs) in most cases.

Like many owls and other birds of prey, females are larger than males. Despite this owl’s enormous size, the vast majority of its size and weight are determined by its feathers rather than its actual body.

The body is relatively small, which explains why this owl is very light for its size. Most eagles of similar size weigh at least 2 kg.

There’s still so much to discover about this fun owl – so read on to find out!

The Great Gray Owl is the largest owl species

Great Gray Owl Wingspan

Great gray owls have a wingspan of up to 152 cm (5 ft 0 in), with females averaging 142 cm (4 ft 8 in) and males 140 cm (4 ft 7 in).

Due to its large wingspan, the great gray owl is an extremely powerful flier, able to fly through heavy snow and hunt efficiently in adverse conditions. The great gray owl can fly quickly and quietly, which allows it to effectively ambush prey, even with its enormous size.

Additionally, they are very quiet fliers and can hunt in complete darkness thanks to their excellent hearing. They can hear prey moving under 60 cm of snow and will “snow” to catch food from under the snow.

The great gray owl has a wingspan of up to 5 feet

great gray owl weight

The average weight of a great gray owl is about 1.0 to 1.59 kg (3.5 lb). Like most other owls, females are usually larger than males and are at the top of the range, while males are at the bottom.

Great gray owls are one of the largest owl species in the world, but they are not that heavy because most of their body size is made up of thick feathers.

For example, compare a great gray owl to a similarly sized great horned owl or Eurasian horned owl. The latter two species are slightly larger, but weigh an average of about 2.5kg, with a maximum weight of about 4kg – more than double that of the Great Gray Owl!

Great gray owls can catch large prey such as grouse and ducks. Although their diet consists mainly of small mammals — especially lemmings — great gray owls also eat birds, reptiles, and sometimes fish.

Although they are one of the largest owls in the world, they are not that heavy as their thick feathers make them quite large

How big is a great gray owl compared to a human?

The great gray owl is one of the largest owl species in the world. They’re about half the size of a human — still pretty big.

Their average height is about 76.2 inches (30 inches), but some can be as tall as 85 cm (33 inches). Wingspan up to 5 feet. In comparison, the average human height is about 152.4 cm (60 inches) to 182.9 cm (72 inches) feet.

How big an animal can a great gray owl hold?

Great gray owls are large birds capable of hunting prey such as grouse, geese, ducks, voles and hares. However, despite their size, they were not particularly heavy and lacked the strength of other large non-owl raptors.

They prefer to hunt small mammals such as lemmings and voles, which are their staple food. They definitely lack the powerlifting power of the Eagles and Big Eagles.

Great gray owl hunting prey in its natural habitat

Why is the great gray owl so big?

The great gray owl lives in the far north, including remote tundra regions beyond the Arctic Circle. Their northern habitat requires them to maintain an extra thick coat of feathers, which is why this owl is so large.

The gray owl’s body is actually quite small. If you compare this owl to other similarly sized owls and other birds of prey, it weighs almost half as much!

So, the great gray owl is kind of like a little owl in the coat of a big owl. That didn’t make them any less impressive, though.

Great gray owls need a thick coat of feathers to survive in harsh habitats

Compared to other birds, the great gray owl

Great gray owls, snowy owls, great horned owls, and horned owls are all very similar in size and stature.

However, the Great Gray Owl is much lighter than the other two. In terms of wingspan, the great gray owl is comparable to the small and medium sized hawks.

Closeup of a great gray owl perched on a tree

common problem

Is the great gray owl the largest owl in North America?

The great gray owl is the tallest owl in North America. However, in terms of weight, the great gray owl is surpassed by the great horned owl and the snowy owl.

They are still exceptionally large, and have the largest facial dish, or “radar antenna,” of any owl.

Can a great gray owl pick up a person?

They may look large and dangerous, but great gray owls actually weigh only 1.0 to 1.5k (2.2 to 3.3 lbs). This is very light for a bird of their size. That’s because this owl’s size is made up mostly of its thick feathers, not its body!

Can a great gray owl pick up a dog?

A great gray owl probably won’t be able to pick up most dogs. Weighing about 1.0 to 1.5 kg (2.2 to 3.3 lb), these owls prey mainly on lemmings, voles, and small to medium birds (the largest being probably goslings).

Which is bigger, a great horned owl or a gray owl?

Gray owls are similar in size to great horned owls, but they are usually much lighter.

In fact, both the snowy owl and the great horned owl weigh twice as much as the great gray owl.