Northern Boobook vs Powerful Owl

Northern Boobook

Ninox japonica

Medium225 gForest

Ninox japonica is a hawk owl species with a body length averaging between 29 and 33 cm and a wingspan of approximately 60 to 70 cm wide. Current knowledge on the species shows no sexual dimorphism and an average weight of approximately 168g. The northern boobook has a hawk-like appearance and its subspecies are practically indistinguishable. Individuals of the species will have a brown back and wings with lighter brown horizontal streaks on the tail feathers. The neck, crown and face of this bird are slightly more greyish brown aside from a small white patch above the beak. Voice: Northern boobooks vocalize through a sequence of deep ho-hos and this behavior is specific to breeding individuals during their reproductive periods. Correspondingly, the vocalization of N. japonica is seldom heard in regions where it is migrant or a winter resident.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: muangpaisuetrong · CC0

Powerful Owl

Ninox strenua

Large1.3 kgForest

The powerful owl has a long tail and a small head, giving it an atypical silhouette for an owl and imparting a more hawk-like appearance than any other large owl. The protruding bill and distinct brow ridges enhance the hawk-like appearance of the species. The facial disc is ill-defined. The upper parts are dark grey-brown, mottled, and barred with whitish. The underparts are white with bold, grey-brown, V-shaped barring. The tail has six narrow white bars contrasting with grey-brown. Voice: The male powerful owl's song is an impressive low, rather mournful-sounding and far-carrying double-hoot, whoo-hooo, each note lasting a few seconds at least, broken up by a brief silence and the second note being usually higher pitched than the first. The female has a similar call, but has a higher-pitched voice. Duets are frequently heard at the onset of breeding.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: ianrainbow · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Northern Boobook and Powerful Owl.