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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Lesser Horned Owl	Great Horned Owl
Scientific Name	Bubo magellanicus	Bubo virginianus
Order	Strigiformes	Strigiformes
Family	Strigidae	Strigidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	55.0 cm (21.7 in)
Wingspan	67.2 cm (26.5 in)	127.0 cm (50.0 in)
Weight	1073.2 g (37.86 oz)	1400.0 g (49.38 oz)
Diet	--	Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. …
Clutch Size	2-3	1-4
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Lesser Horned Owl —

Great Horned Owl 55.0 cm

Wingspan

Lesser Horned Owl 67.2 cm

Great Horned Owl 127.0 cm

Weight

Lesser Horned Owl 1073.2 g

Great Horned Owl 1400.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🏜️ Desert 🌲 Forest

Lesser Horned Owl only

None

Great Horned Owl only

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

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.

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Song & Call Comparison

Lesser Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Lesser Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Lesser Horned Owl

Least Concern

Great Horned Owl

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How to Tell Them Apart

Lesser Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Plumage

Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.

Bill

Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers

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About These Birds

Lesser Horned Owl

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.

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Related Comparisons

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Great Horned Owl vs Snowy Owl

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