Great Gray Owl in Hennepin County
2025-02-04

Occasional in Hennepin County in the Winter season

Found by Isabella Maiwurm. Large, gray bird perched on a branch on edge of marshy/grassy area in the park. At first glance size indicated a GHOW, however the bird was all gray, lacked ear tufts, and had a very large facial disk. To differentiate from BAOW, this bird had a white bow tie on chest, dark face, and yellow eyes. It lacked any horizontal barring on chest, or vertical barring on lower chest or back. The bird has all normal characteristics of GGOW including the white bow tie, large facial disk, yellow eyes and beak, and mostly gray with white and brown streaks.

Isabella Maiwurm, iPhone 12, through binoculars