pygargue à tête blanche vs Great Horned Owl
Haliaeetus leucocephalus comparé à Bubo virginianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | pygargue à tête blanche | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Bubo virginianus |
| Ordre | Accipitriformes | Strigiformes |
| Famille | Accipitridae | Strigidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 79,0 cm (31.1 in) | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Envergure | 203,0 cm (79.9 in) | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) |
| Poids | 4300,0 g (151.68 oz) | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
pygargue à tête blanche only
Great Horned Owl only
pygargue à tête blanche
Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.
Great Horned Owl
Diverse habitats including forests, deserts, swamps, urban parks, and suburban areas. Nests in tree hollows, cliff ledges, and abandoned nests of other large birds.
Song & Call Comparison
pygargue à tête blanche
High-pitched, chattering whistle: a rapid 'kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik'. Surprisingly weak and thin for such a large raptor. Also gives a lower 'kwit-kwit' call near the nest.
Great Horned Owl
Deep, resonant 'who-who-who-who-ooo': the classic 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo' territorial duet of a mated pair. Booms at dusk. Female pitch slightly higher than male.
Geographic Range & Migration
pygargue à tête blanche
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Statut de conservation
pygargue à tête blanche
Great Horned Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
pygargue à tête blanche
Adults have a dark brown body with a striking white head and tail. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, reaching full adult plumage at age five.
Large, hooked, bright yellow bill
Great Horned Owl
Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.
Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers
About These Birds
pygargue à tête blanche
The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States. Once endangered due to DDT pesticide use, it made a remarkable recovery and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. These powerful raptors build the largest tree nests of any bird, some weighing over two tons.
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is the most powerful and widespread owl in the Americas, earning the nickname tiger of the sky. It is one of the earliest nesting birds, often laying eggs in January when snow still covers the ground. Great horned owls are fierce predators, regularly taking prey up to three times their own weight.