Common Kestrel vs Great Horned Owl
Falco tinnunculus comparado com Bubo virginianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Common Kestrel | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Falco tinnunculus | Bubo virginianus |
| Ordem | Falconiformes | Strigiformes |
| Família | Falconidae | Strigidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Envergadura | 74,0 cm (29.1 in) | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) |
| Peso | 190,0 g (6.70 oz) | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) |
| Dieta | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … |
| Tamanho da postura | 1-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partilhados
Common Kestrel only
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
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
Common Kestrel
A shrill, repeated 'kee-kee-kee-kee' or 'kik-ik-ik', especially near nest. Alarm call is a nasal chattering. Generally less vocal than larger falcons. Calls ring clearly in open country.
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
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Estado de conservação
Common Kestrel
Great Horned Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Kestrel
Males have a blue-grey head and tail with a rufous back spotted with black. Females are rufous-brown with heavy barring. Both have a dark moustachial stripe.
Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere
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
Common Kestrel
Peneireiro-vulgar (Falco tinnunculus) — 32-38 cm. Falcão mais comum da Europa e Ásia, reconhecível pelo pairar estacionário com batimento rápido de asas enquanto caça. Macho com cabeça e cauda cinzentas e dorso castanho avermelhado manchado; fêmea mais barrada. Habita campos abertos, zonas costeiras e áreas urbanas. Alimenta-se de pequenos mamíferos, insetos e lagartos.
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.