Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Great Horned Owl vs Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl vs Eastern Screech-Owl (Bubo virginianus vs Megascops asio): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The tiger of the night and the little ghost. Three rules:
- Size: cat-sized = Great Horned; robin-sized = screech-owl.
- Voice: deep, slow hoots = Great Horned; spooky whinny or trill = screech-owl.
- Silhouette: huge head with tall horns = Great Horned; compact with small tufts = screech-owl.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The big owl and the little owl, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Great Horned Owl | Eastern Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bubo virginianus | Megascops asio |
| Length KEY | 22 in (56 cm) | 8.5 in (21.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 44–48 in (112–122 cm) | 20 in (51 cm) |
| Weight | 3.1 lb (1400 g) | 4.3–8.6 oz (121–244 g) |
| Overall Shape | Huge owl with great ear tufts (“horns”) and yellow eyes | Tiny owl with ear tufts and yellow eyes; red or gray color morphs |
| Male Plumage KEY | Mottled gray-brown with large ear tufts, glaring yellow eyes and a white throat bib (sexes alike) | Gray or rufous-red, intricately streaked and barred like tree bark; small ear tufts; yellow eyes (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, averaging larger | Identical to the male, averaging larger |
| Bill Shape | Black, hooked | Small, yellow-green |
| Tail | Short, barred | Short, banded |
| Core Range | All of the Americas — every habitat from desert to city park | East of the Rockies — woods, orchards, parks and tree-lined suburbs |
| Migration | Non-migratory resident | Non-migratory resident |
| Feeder Presence | Never visits feeders; hunts rabbits, skunks and even other raptors at night | Never visits feeders; accepts backyard nest boxes and hunts insects and mice at night |
| Favorite Foods | Mammals up to rabbit and skunk size, birds, reptiles | Insects, mice, small birds, earthworms |
| Song KEY | Deep, booming “hoo-hoo hooooo hoo-hoo” hoots | A descending tremulous whinny and a long monotone trill |
| Flight Call | Deep hoots; young scream a harsh “sheeeek” | Whinny, trill, and soft barks |
| Population Trend | Stable — the most widespread large owl in the Americas | Stable; commoner in suburbs than most people realize |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Great Horned Owl — Male
Bubo virginianus
- Great ear tufts and glaring yellow eyes.
- White throat bib flashes when it hoots.
- The deep hoots of winter nights, everywhere.
Eastern Screech-Owl — Male
Megascops asio
- Tiny — robin-sized — with ear tufts and yellow eyes.
- Red or gray morphs, both bark-camouflaged.
- The whinnying night voice of eastern suburbs.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Great Horned Owl — Female
Bubo virginianus
- Identical plumage, larger than the male.
- Uses old hawk and crow nests — nests in mid-winter.
- Fiercely defends nestlings in early spring.
Eastern Screech-Owl — Female
Megascops asio
- Identical plumage, larger body.
- Uses nest boxes with a 3-inch entrance hole.
- Suns at cavity entrances on winter days.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Great Horned Owl | Eastern Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 22 in, wingspan 4 feet | 8.5 in, wingspan under 2 feet |
| Ear Tufts | Large, widely spaced “horns” | Small tufts, often held flat |
| Eyes | Yellow, deep-set, fierce | Yellow, wide and mild-looking |
| Plumage | Mottled brown-gray, white throat bib | Gray or red morph, finely streaked |
| Voice | Deep, slow hoots — “who’s awake? me too” | Trembling whinny and monotone trill |
| Nest | Commandeers old hawk and crow nests | Tree cavities and nest boxes |
| Prey | Rabbits, skunks, other owls | Insects, mice, small birds |
Song & Call Comparison
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Song: deep, booming hoo-hoo hooooo hoo-hoo.
Calls: screams, barks and hisses near the nest.
Great Horned Owl voice • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
Song: a descending tremulous whinny, plus a long monotone trill.
Calls: soft barks and trills between pairs.
Eastern Screech-Owl voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Great Horned Owl lives everywhere in the Americas — forests, deserts, cities — the most widespread owl on the continent.
The Eastern Screech-Owl lives east of the Rockies in woods and suburbs — the most common small owl of eastern backyards, though rarely seen.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Neither visits feeders — but both hunt the yard: screech-owls take moths at porch lights; great horneds take rabbits.
- Nest boxes: a deep box with a 3-inch hole suits screech-owls; great horneds do not use boxes.
- Protect small pets at night where great horneds hunt.
- Listen: both call most in late fall and winter, when territories and pairs form.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Great Horned Owls are apex predators — fearless enough to take skunks, cats and other owls, nesting in the dead of winter.
Eastern Screech-Owls are confiding little hunters — sunning at cavity holes and trilling softly to their mates at dusk.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Size. Huge = Great Horned; tiny = screech-owl.
- Tufts. Tall horns = Great Horned; small tufts = screech-owl.
- Voice. Deep hoots = Great Horned; whinny = screech-owl.
- Bib. White throat patch = Great Horned.
- Color morph. Bright rufous = screech-owl.
- Location. Sunning at a tree hole = screech-owl; huge nest in a crotch = Great Horned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Great Horned Owl from a screech-owl?
Great Horneds are over two feet tall with large ear tufts and deep hoots. Screech-owls are robin-sized with small tufts and a trembling whinny or trill.
What owl makes the classic “hoo-hoo” sound?
The Great Horned Owl — a deep, slow series of hoots, often answered by its mate.
Do screech-owls screech?
No — their song is a spooky descending whinny or a soft trill, not a screech.
Will a Great Horned Owl take my cat?
It is possible — they are powerful enough to take prey as large as skunks. Keep small pets indoors at night.
Which owl uses a nest box?
The screech-owl — a deep box with a 3-inch hole mounted high on a tree.
When do owls nest?
Great Horneds nest in late winter — the earliest nesters of any North American bird. Screech-owls nest in spring.
Key Takeaways
- Size: Huge = Great Horned; tiny = screech-owl.
- Voice: Deep hoots = Great Horned; whinny = screech-owl.
- Tufts: Tall horns = Great Horned.
- Bib: White throat = Great Horned.
- Boxes: Screech-owl uses boxes; Great Horned does not.
- Nesting: Great Horned nests in mid-winter.