Great Horned Owl vs Pygargue à queue blanche
Bubo virginianus comparé à Haliaeetus albicilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Great Horned Owl | Pygargue à queue blanche |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Bubo virginianus | Haliaeetus albicilla |
| Ordre | Strigiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Famille | Strigidae | Accipitridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) | 84,0 cm (33.1 in) |
| Envergure | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) | 225,0 cm (88.6 in) |
| Poids | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) | 5200,0 g (183.42 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … | Fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Often pirates food from other birds. Takes fish from the water … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Pygargue à queue blanche only
Aucun(e)
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.
Pygargue à queue blanche
Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Pygargue à queue blanche
High-pitched, yelping 'klee-klee' and deep barking 'ra-ra-ra'. Less vocal than Bald Eagle but similar chattering quality. Gives gull-like wailing near nest in breeding season.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Pygargue à queue blanche
Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.
Statut de conservation
Great Horned Owl
Pygargue à queue blanche
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Pygargue à queue blanche
Brown body with a paler head in adults and a distinctive short white wedge-shaped tail. Massive broad wings in flight. Juveniles are darker overall.
Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill
About These Birds
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.
Pygargue à queue blanche
The white-tailed eagle is Europe's largest eagle and the fourth-largest eagle in the world. Once extinct in Britain, it has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland through conservation programs. These powerful raptors can live over 25 years and form lifelong pair bonds.