Great Horned Owl look-alikes

Key differences

Snowy Owls are almost entirely white (males) or white with dark barring (females/juveniles), lack prominent ear tufts, and have a rounder head. They are typically found in open tundra or fields, not forests.

Key differences

Long-eared Owls are much smaller and more slender, with very long, close-set ear tufts that are often held erect. Their facial disc is more elongated and orange-brown, and their eyes are orange. Their hooting call is softer and more drawn out.

Key differences

Short-eared Owls are medium-sized, lack prominent ear tufts (they have tiny ones often not visible), and are typically found in open grasslands or marshes. They are often crepuscular or diurnal and have a distinctive buoyant, moth-like flight.

Key differences

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is a close relative and looks very similar but is generally larger and more robust, with more prominent and widely spaced ear tufts. Its range is restricted to Eurasia and parts of North Africa, not the Americas.