Owls come in a variety of colors, from snowy white to chocolate brown. But some of the most common and recognizable owl species sport plumage in various shades of grey. Grey owls tend to blend in well with the bark of trees or rocky outcroppings, providing them with great camouflage as they hunt for prey or evade predators. Here’s an overview of some of the owl species that feature grey as a dominant color in their plumage.
Great Grey Owl
One of the largest owl species in North America, the great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) is aptly named for its prominent grey plumage. Adults have a grey facial disk and stripes, dense gray barring on the chest, and grey horizontal barring on the belly and underside. The wings and back also feature extensive grey barring. Great grey owls have luminous yellow eyes that contrast sharply with their grey and brown feathers.
These massive owls, which can have a wingspan of up to 5 feet, inhabit dense coniferous and mixed forests across Canada, Alaska, and the northern continental United States. Their camouflaging grey plumage allows them blend in with the trunks and branches of trees. Great grey owls hunt small mammals like voles, pocket gophers, and hares by waiting patiently on an elevated perch and then swooping down silently on prey.
Barred Owl
The barred owl (Strix varia) is a medium-sized owl native to North America. It gets its common name from the distinctive grey and brown horizontal barring pattern on its chest and belly. The barred owl has a grey-brown face disk that is framed by a dark grey head with no ear tufts. Its eyes are dark brown. The wings and back are marked with alternating brown and grey bars.
Barred owls inhabit mature forests, especially around swamps and riparian areas, across the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada. They are adept at hunting in dense wooded areas. Their prey consists mainly of small mammals, but they will also take birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Barred owls are often heard before they are seen, with their distinctive “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” call.
Eastern Screech Owl
The eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) is a pint-sized owl with prominent grey, brown and white patterning. This species, which ranges in size from 6 to 10 inches, has ear tufts that help break up its outline when roosting in trees. Plumage is variable, but eastern screech owls often sport grey feathers on their head, wings and back, with white or grey barring on the belly and chest.
These owls occupy open woodlands across eastern North America. They roost in tree cavities during the day and emerge at night to hunt for insects, small mammals, birds and fish around forest edges, parks and suburban yards. Eastern screech owls come in a gray morph as well as a rufous reddish-brown morph across most of their range.
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a large, powerful owl common across North and South America. It has prominent ear tufts, reddish-brown or grey facial disk feathers, and yellow eyes. The great horned owl’s underparts are light with brown horizontal barring, while the upperparts vary from greyish to brown and can feature white spotting.
This adaptable predator inhabits a wide range of wooded habitats, from dense forests to city parks and suburban areas. Great horned owls hunt at night for small to medium-sized mammals like rabbits, skunks, squirrels and mice. Their excellent camouflage aids them in capturing prey by surprise. The species may also opportunistically eat other birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Short-Eared Owl
As its name suggests, the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) has small, barely visible ear tufts. Their streaked and mottled brown plumage provides excellent camouflage while roosting in open grasslands. The short-eared owl’s facial disk is tawny orange and outlined in black, while the underparts are significantly lighter with dark brown streaks.
Found throughout North America, northern South America, Europe, and Asia, these owls frequent open country like prairies, meadows, marshes and agricultural areas. Short-eared owls are active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk. They hunt voles, mice, small birds and other prey while flying low over open terrain or from a perch. Their distinctive moth-like flight silhouette makes them easy to identify.
Northern Saw-Whet Owl
The northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a very small owl, between 7 and 8 inches long, that inhabits coniferous and mixed forests across North America. It gets its common name from its call, which resembles the sound of whetting or sharpening a saw. These owls have a rounded head with no ear tufts, yellow eyes, and greyish-brown upperparts with white spotting. The underparts are pale with reddish-brown streaks.
Northern saw-whet owls roost in dense cover during the day. At night, they hunt small mammals like mice, voles, shrews and bats as well as small birds. Their dull brown plumage provides excellent concealment as they roost in conifers or swoop down to capture prey. Northern saw-whet owls are highly migratory, breeding in Canada and the northern U.S. and wintering as far south as Mexico.
Long-Eared Owl
Closely related to the short-eared owl, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) is medium-sized with prominent ear tufts. They have buff orange facial disks outlined in black. Their upperparts are mottled brown, black and tan pattern that provides camouflage, while the underparts are lighter buff streaked with brown. Long-eared owls have dark brown eyes.
Found across North America, Europe and Asia, long-eared owls dwell in dense woods near open land. They roost in conifers or nest in abandoned stick nests built by other birds like crows, ravens or hawks. Long-eared owls emerge at night to hunt voles, mice, rats and small birds, relying on keen hearing to locate prey in vegetation.
Boreal Owl
The boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) inhabits northern coniferous and mixed forests from Alaska across Canada to the Great Lakes region. About the size of a saw-whet owl, this species has no ear tufts and boasts stunning camouflage. Its upperparts are mottled brown, grey and white like tree bark, while the underparts are buff with brown streaks.
Boreal owls nest in tree cavities and hunt small mammals like voles, lemmings and shrews as well as small birds. They are active day and night. These owls have specialized asymmetrical ear openings that allow them to locate prey in complete darkness under the evergreen forest canopy, even beneath deep snow.
Conclusion
Owls have evolved a variety of plumage patterns and colors to help them blend in to their natural habitats. Several owl species native to North America and around the world make good use of grey feathers to camouflage themselves in wooded areas. The great grey, barred, eastern screech, great horned, short-eared, saw whet, long-eared and boreal owls all incorporate grey into their plumage to varying degrees as a key adaptation for hunting and survival.