Great grey owls in Montreal, Canada

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Grey owls ready for action

These two great grey owls look like they're ready for some hunting. Great greys are bigger than most other owls, with broad wings and a long tail, but considering that most of their size comes from feathers—they're relative lightweights. They generally live in pine and fir forests with meadows nearby, hunting small rodents at night and avoiding areas with people. Great greys hunt by listening and watching from a perch, then swooping down on their prey—sometimes plunging into more than a foot of snow to make a diving catch.