Unspotted Saw-whet Owl vs Great Horned Owl
Aegolius ridgwayi compared with Bubo virginianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Unspotted Saw-whet Owl | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aegolius ridgwayi | Bubo virginianus |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 55.0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Wingspan | 27.7 cm (10.9 in) | 127.0 cm (50.0 in) |
| Weight | 86.0 g (3.03 oz) | 1400.0 g (49.38 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … |
| Clutch Size | 5-6 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl only
None
Great Horned Owl only
Great Horned Owl
Diverse habitats including forests, deserts, swamps, urban parks, and suburban areas. Nests in tree hollows, cliff ledges, and abandoned nests of other large birds.
Song & Call Comparison
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Great Horned Owl
Deep, resonant 'who-who-who-who-ooo': the classic 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo' territorial duet of a mated pair. Booms at dusk. Female pitch slightly higher than male.
Geographic Range & Migration
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Conservation Status
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Great Horned Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
Great Horned Owl
Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.
Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers
About These Birds
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl
The Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (<em>Aegolius ridgwayi</em>) is a small owl belonging to the family Strigidae (True Owls). It inhabits forest environments, typically montane or highland forest zones within its range. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. No nesting type information is currently available for this species, though members of the genus Aegolius are generally cavity nesters. Clutch size is recorded as 5 to 6 eggs, which is relatively large for a small …
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is the most powerful and widespread owl in the Americas, earning the nickname tiger of the sky. It is one of the earliest nesting birds, often laying eggs in January when snow still covers the ground. Great horned owls are fierce predators, regularly taking prey up to three times their own weight.