Barn Swallow vs Great Horned Owl
Hirundo rustica в сравнении с Bubo virginianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Характеристика | Barn Swallow | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Научное название | Hirundo rustica | Bubo virginianus |
| Отряд | Passeriformes | Strigiformes |
| Семейство | Hirundinidae | Strigidae |
| Охранный статус | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Длина | 19,0 cm (7.5 in) | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Размах крыльев | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) |
| Масса | 19,0 g (0.67 oz) | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) |
| Питание | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … |
| Размер кладки | 2-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Общие среды обитания
Barn Swallow only
Barn Swallow
Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
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
Barn Swallow
A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.
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
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Охранный статус
Barn Swallow
Great Horned Owl
How to Tell Them Apart
Barn Swallow
Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight
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
Barn Swallow
The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.
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.