Bermuda Saw-whet Owl vs Snowy Owl
Aegolius gradyi compared with Bubo scandiacus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bermuda Saw-whet Owl | Snowy Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aegolius gradyi | Bubo scandiacus |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) |
| Weight | — | 2100.0 g (74.08 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl only
Snowy Owl only
Snowy Owl
Arctic tundra for breeding. Winters in open habitats resembling tundra, including prairies, airports, shorelines, and agricultural fields.
Song & Call Comparison
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl
Snowy Owl
Male gives a deep booming hoot 'hooooo' and a rising 'hoo-hoo' series. Also barks sharply when alarmed. Quieter than many owls; silent during long Arctic winter hunts.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation Status
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl
Snowy Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl
Snowy Owl
Adult males are almost entirely white. Females and immatures have dark brown barring and spotting. Yellow eyes and fully feathered feet.
Dark hooked bill mostly hidden by dense facial feathering
About These Birds
Bermuda Saw-whet Owl
The Bermuda Saw-whet Owl was a small owl endemic to Bermuda that became extinct in the 17th century. It is known only from fossil bones and was likely a colonist from the North American Saw-whet Owl that evolved in island isolation. Its extinction was driven by human settlement, habitat clearance, and introduced predators.
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is the heaviest North American owl and one of the most charismatic Arctic birds. Unlike most owls, it is largely diurnal, necessitated by the continuous daylight of Arctic summers. Snowy owl irruptions — periodic mass southward movements — are tied to lemming population cycles.