Amazonian Pygmy-owl vs Snowy Owl
Glaucidium hardyi compared with Bubo scandiacus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazonian Pygmy-owl | Snowy Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucidium hardyi | Bubo scandiacus |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 17.9 cm (7.0 in) | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) |
| Weight | 56.333333333333336 g (1.99 oz) | 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 | 3-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Amazonian Pygmy-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
Amazonian Pygmy-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
Amazonian Pygmy-owl
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation Status
Amazonian Pygmy-owl
Snowy Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazonian Pygmy-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
Amazonian Pygmy-owl
The Amazonian Pygmy-owl is a tiny owl weighing about 56 g with a 17.9 cm wingspan, active during daylight hours in Amazonian forest. Despite its small size, it is an aggressive predator of small birds, lizards, and large insects.
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.