Anjouan Scops-owl vs Snowy Owl
Otus capnodes compared with Bubo scandiacus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anjouan Scops-owl | Snowy Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Otus capnodes | Bubo scandiacus |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) |
| Weight | 119.0 g (4.20 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 | -- | 3-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Anjouan Scops-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
Anjouan Scops-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
Anjouan Scops-owl
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation Status
Anjouan Scops-owl
Snowy Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Anjouan Scops-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
Anjouan Scops-owl
The Anjouan Scops-owl is an endangered small owl with a 32.6 cm wingspan, weighing 119 grams, endemic to Anjouan Island in the Comoros. It inhabits remaining forest fragments on the island, hunting insects and small vertebrates at night. Forest loss severely threatens its tiny population.
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.