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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut	Snowy Owl	Northern Hawk-owl
Nom scientifique	Bubo scandiacus	Surnia ulula
Ordre	Strigiformes	Strigiformes
Famille	Strigidae	Strigidae
Statut de conservation	Vulnerable	Least Concern
Longueur	63,0 cm (24.8 in)	—
Envergure	145,0 cm (57.1 in)	46,3 cm (18.2 in)
Poids	2100,0 g (74.08 oz)	319,95 g (11.29 oz)
Régime alimentaire	Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. …	--
Taille de la couvée	3-14	6-10
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Snowy Owl 63,0 cm

Northern Hawk-owl —

Envergure

Snowy Owl 145,0 cm

Northern Hawk-owl 46,3 cm

Poids

Snowy Owl 2100,0 g

Northern Hawk-owl 319,95 g

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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

🌾 Grassland

Snowy Owl only

🌿 Wetland 🏖️ Coastal

Northern Hawk-owl only

Aucun(e)

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

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.

Northern Hawk-owl

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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

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Statut de conservation

Vulnerable

Snowy Owl

Least Concern

Northern Hawk-owl

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How to Tell Them Apart

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

Northern Hawk-owl

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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.

Northern Hawk-owl

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Related Comparisons

Great Horned Owl vs Snowy Owl

same-family

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