Great Grey Owl

The Great Grey Owl is a large and notable species of owl utilized by the Wizarding World, primarily for the purpose of Owl Post. These birds are capable of carrying letters and packages over long distances. The most prominent example of this species is Errol, the aged and accident-prone owl belonging to the Weasley family.

As one of the larger breeds of owl available to wizards and witches, the Great Grey Owl is a physically impressive bird. When in good health, they are described as “large” and “handsome”. Their primary role in wizarding society is as mail carriers. They are shown to be reliable messengers, capable of finding recipients without an explicit address, a common trait among post owls. However, their effectiveness can be hampered by age and physical condition. The Weasley family's owl, Errol, is often depicted as frail and exhausted, frequently collapsing upon completing a delivery. In contrast, a Great Grey Owl from the Hogwarts Owlery chosen by Harry Potter appeared robust and performed its task without any issue, demonstrating that Errol's condition was due to his advanced age rather than a flaw in the species itself.

• Errol
  • The long-serving and “ancient” owl of the Weasley family. Errol is characterized by his age, molting feathers, and general feebleness, which often results in clumsy landings and a need for recovery after flights.
  • Notable Deliveries:
    1. Delivered a Howler from Molly Weasley to her son Ron Weasley at Hogwarts (CS6).
    2. Delivered birthday presents and a cake from the Weasleys to Harry Potter (CS3).
    3. Delivered a letter from the Ministry of Magic announcing Percy Weasley's appointment as Head Boy, along with his badge (PA1).
    4. Assisted Pigwidgeon in delivering a large parcel of food to Sirius Black (GF22).
• Hogwarts School Owl
  • In his fifth year, Harry Potter selected a “large, handsome Great Grey Owl” from the Hogwarts Owlery to send an urgent letter to Sirius Black. This owl successfully completed its mission, serving as a contrast to the much less reliable Errol (OP14).

• The Great Grey Owl, Strix nebulosa, is a real species of owl. It is one of the world's largest owls by length and is known for its large facial disc and piercing yellow eyes.
• In the film adaptations of the books, Errol is visually portrayed as an elderly and somewhat bedraggled owl, consistent with his description in the novels (film).