Boreal Owl vs Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Aegolius funereus compared with Bubo bubo

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Boreal Owl Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Scientific Name Aegolius funereus Bubo bubo
Order Strigiformes Strigiformes
Family Strigidae Strigidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 68.0 cm (26.8 in)
Wingspan 33.8 cm (13.3 in) 170.0 cm (66.9 in)
Weight 137.75 g (4.86 oz) 2800.0 g (98.77 oz)
Diet -- Mammals up to the size of hares and young foxes, and birds up to the …
Clutch Size 3-6 2-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Boreal Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl 68.0 cm
Wingspan
Boreal Owl 33.8 cm
Eurasian Eagle-Owl 170.0 cm
Weight
Boreal Owl 137.75 g
Eurasian Eagle-Owl 2800.0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Boreal Owl only

None

Eurasian Eagle-Owl only

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Rocky landscapes, cliffs, gorges, and open forest across Eurasia. Increasingly found near human settlements.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Boreal Owl

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Song

Powerful, resonant 'ooo-hu' duetting with mate across great distances at dusk. One of Europe's deepest owl calls. Also gives barking screams, hisses, and grunts at the nest.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Boreal Owl

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The most widely distributed eagle-owl.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Boreal Owl

Least Concern

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Boreal Owl

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Plumage

Tawny-brown plumage heavily mottled and streaked with black. Large prominent orange eyes and long ear tufts. Streaked breast and barred belly.

Bill

Powerful, dark grey-black hooked bill

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Boreal Owl

The Boreal Owl (<em>Aegolius funereus</em>) is a small owl belonging to the family Strigidae (True Owls). It inhabits forest environments, where it relies on dense coniferous and mixed woodland cover for shelter and foraging. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. The Boreal Owl nests in cavities (nest type CV), making use of natural tree hollows or abandoned woodpecker holes. Incubation lasts approximately 29 days, and fledging occurs between 28 and 36 days …

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

The Eurasian eagle-owl is one of the largest owl species in the world, with females sometimes reaching a wingspan of nearly two meters. Its deep booming call can be heard up to four kilometers away on calm nights. These apex predators sit at the top of the avian food chain, preying on other raptors including buzzards and smaller owls.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family