Snowy Owl vs Wandering Albatross
Bubo scandiacus compared with Diomedea exulans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Snowy Owl | Wandering Albatross |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bubo scandiacus | Diomedea exulans |
| Order | Strigiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Strigidae | Diomedeidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
| Length | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) | 117.0 cm (46.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) | 320.0 cm (126.0 in) |
| Weight | 2100.0 g (74.08 oz) | 9000.0 g (317.47 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. … | Squid, fish, and crustaceans caught from the ocean surface, often at night. Follows fishing vessels … |
| Clutch Size | 3-14 | 1 |
| 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.
Wandering Albatross
Open ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Breeds on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Spends years at sea between breeding attempts.
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.
Wandering Albatross
At nesting colonies emits a loud braying 'waaah' and guttural grunts. Silent at sea for most of the year. Courtship involves ritualized mutual bill-clapping and moaning calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
Wandering Albatross
Southern Ocean circumpolar, breeding on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and other sub-Antarctic islands.
Conservation Status
Snowy Owl
Wandering Albatross
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
Wandering Albatross
Adults are mostly white with black trailing edges to the wings. Juveniles are chocolate brown, whitening progressively over 5-10 years. Pink bill and pale feet.
Very large pink bill with a hooked tip and visible tubular nostrils
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.
Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters. These oceanic nomads can circumnavigate the globe, covering over 120,000 km per year using dynamic soaring with minimal wing flapping. Pairs mate for life and may live over 60 years.