Austral Pygmy-owl vs Snowy Owl
Glaucidium nana compared with Bubo scandiacus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Austral Pygmy-owl | Snowy Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucidium nana | Bubo scandiacus |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 19.0 cm (7.5 in) | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) |
| Weight | 75.0 g (2.65 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 | 3-5 | 3-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
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
Austral 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
Austral Pygmy-owl
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation Status
Austral Pygmy-owl
Snowy Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Austral 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
Austral Pygmy-owl
The Austral Pygmy-owl is a small, diurnal owl found in the temperate forests and shrublands of Chile and Argentina. Weighing about 75g with a wingspan of 19cm, it is the southernmost owl in the world and is active during daylight hours. It hunts small birds, insects, and lizards from concealed perches in the forest.
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.