Finland’s Great Grey Owl population increasing as they show signs of adapting to climate change
An increase in occupied nests suggests the species is coping better than many other nocturnal birds of prey
The website Ornithomedia is reporting on research that shows the Finnish population of Great Grey Owl is growing and appears to be coping better with climate change than many other birds of prey. New research shows that between 2008–2014 and 2018–2024, the number of occupied nests increased by more than 8%, an unusual trend at a time when many nocturnal raptors in Finland are declining or stable at best.
Researchers attribute this increase to the species’ flexibility in where and how it lives. Rather than remaining fixed to traditional areas, Great Grey Owls in Finland appear to be shifting their distribution northwards, responding to changing weather patterns and altered prey availability. This contrasts with neighbouring Sweden and Norway, where the species has expanded mainly southwards in recent decades.
The owls’ ability to exploit disturbed habitats is thought to be a key factor in their resilience. Although forest fires and changing winters can cause short-term losses of prey and nesting sites, Great Grey Owls are able to hunt in open areas and make use of dead trees and altered landscapes while ecosystems recover. This adaptability sets them apart from more specialist forest species, which are proving far more vulnerable to climate-driven change.
Another advantage is their mobility. During periods of low food availability, Great Grey Owls are capable of moving considerable distances in search of prey, including into human-influenced landscapes such as the outskirts of cities. This flexibility may help buffer them against the increasingly unstable rodent cycles caused by milder winters and reduced snow cover.
While the outlook in Finland is currently positive, researchers caution that this apparent resilience has limits. Continued habitat loss, more frequent extreme weather events and long-term changes to prey populations could still threaten the species in the future. For now, however, the Great Grey Owl stands out as one of the northern raptors showing a genuine capacity to adapt to a rapidly warming climate.
January 2026
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