Sometimes referred to as the “phantom of the forest,” this perched great gray owl intently listens and watches for prey. With a unique and keen sense of hearing this owl can hear a vole under 2 feet of snow from 100 yards away. This is achieved through a couple of adaptations. First, it has offset ears that help in triangulating sounds. Second, it’s facial disk (the feather structure around it’s face) is a concave shape which funnels sound to it’s ears.
Taken in the Sax Zim Bog, Minnesota February 2022.
