Snowy Owl vs Northern Hawk-owl
Bubo scandiacus compared with Surnia ulula
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Snowy Owl | Northern Hawk-owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bubo scandiacus | Surnia ulula |
| Order | Strigiformes | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Strigidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) | 46.3 cm (18.2 in) |
| Weight | 2100.0 g (74.08 oz) | 319.95 g (11.29 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-14 | 6-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Snowy Owl
Arctic tundra for breeding. Winters in open habitats resembling tundra, including prairies, airports, shorelines, and agricultural fields.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Northern Hawk-owl
Geographic Range & Migration
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Northern Hawk-owl
Conservation Status
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk-owl
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Northern Hawk-owl
About These Birds
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.