Great Grey Owl

Description:

The Great Grey Owl or Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl. This one was about two feet tall. Very distinctive face. Eyes stood out and were offset by the ring like coloration around them. Had a big, rounded head with a grey face and yellow eyes with darker circles around them. The underparts are light with dark streaks; the upper parts are grey with pale bars. This one didn't have ear tufts.

Habitat:

Spotted this one perched on the side of highway 59 close to Traverse Bay on the way to Victoria Beach in Manitoba. It was perched on a signpost by a telephone pole. The perch was in a grassy ditch area between the hwy and the forest. Either side of the highway is densely forested, mostly coniferous trees. Ample nesting in area.

Notes:

Remarkably calm bird. I stopped my car, did a u-turn to the other side of the highway, parked, retrieved my camera from the trunk and took a number of pictures. This raptor could have cared a less about my actions. It literally seemed to pose for the picture shots!