Common Kestrel vs Great Horned Owl

Falco tinnunculus ile kıyaslandığında Bubo virginianus

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Özellik Common Kestrel Great Horned Owl
Bilimsel Ad Falco tinnunculus Bubo virginianus
Takım Falconiformes Strigiformes
Familya Falconidae Strigidae
Koruma Durumu Least Concern Least Concern
Uzunluk 34,0 cm (13.4 in) 55,0 cm (21.7 in)
Kanat Açıklığı 74,0 cm (29.1 in) 127,0 cm (50.0 in)
Ağırlık 190,0 g (6.70 oz) 1400,0 g (49.38 oz)
Beslenme 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. …
Kuluçka Büyüklüğü 1-7 1-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Common Kestrel 34,0 cm
Great Horned Owl 55,0 cm
Kanat Açıklığı
Common Kestrel 74,0 cm
Great Horned Owl 127,0 cm
Ağırlık
Common Kestrel 190,0 g
Great Horned Owl 1400,0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Ortak Yaşam Alanları

Common Kestrel only

Great Horned Owl 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 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Common Kestrel

Şarkı

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

Şarkı

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 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Koruma Durumu

Least Concern

Common Kestrel

Least Concern

Great Horned Owl

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Common Kestrel

Tuy

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.

Gaga

Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere

Great Horned Owl

Tuy

Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.

Gaga

Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Common Kestrel

The common kestrel is Europe's most abundant falcon, famous for its ability to hover motionless in the wind while scanning for prey. Research has shown kestrels can see ultraviolet light, allowing them to detect vole urine trails that reflect UV. The species has adapted remarkably well to urban environments.

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.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family