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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut	Rufescent Screech-owl	Snowy Owl
Nom scientifique	Megascops ingens	Bubo scandiacus
Ordre	Strigiformes	Strigiformes
Famille	Strigidae	Strigidae
Statut de conservation	Least Concern	Vulnerable
Longueur	—	63,0 cm (24.8 in)
Envergure	38,9 cm (15.3 in)	145,0 cm (57.1 in)
Poids	169,25 g (5.97 oz)	2100,0 g (74.08 oz)
Régime alimentaire	--	Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. …
Taille de la couvée	1	3-14
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Rufescent Screech-owl —

Snowy Owl 63,0 cm

Envergure

Rufescent Screech-owl 38,9 cm

Snowy Owl 145,0 cm

Poids

Rufescent Screech-owl 169,25 g

Snowy Owl 2100,0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Rufescent Screech-owl only

🌲 Forest

Snowy Owl only

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland 🏖️ Coastal

Snowy Owl

Arctic tundra for breeding. Winters in open habitats resembling tundra, including prairies, airports, shorelines, and agricultural fields.

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Song & Call Comparison

Rufescent Screech-owl

Snowy Owl

Chant

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Rufescent Screech-owl

Snowy Owl

Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Rufescent Screech-owl

Vulnerable

Snowy Owl

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How to Tell Them Apart

Rufescent Screech-owl

Snowy Owl

Plumage

Adult males are almost entirely white. Females and immatures have dark brown barring and spotting. Yellow eyes and fully feathered feet.

Bec

Dark hooked bill mostly hidden by dense facial feathering

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About These Birds

Rufescent Screech-owl

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.

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Related Comparisons

Great Horned Owl vs Snowy Owl

same-family

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