Noctowl look-alikes

Key differences

Noctowl is smaller and more slender than the Great Horned Owl. Great Horned Owls have more prominent, widely spaced ear tufts, a more robust build, and often a more reddish-brown plumage with a distinct white throat patch. Their hooting call is typically a deeper, more rhythmic 'hoo-hoo-hooo-hoo-hoo'.

Key differences

Long-eared Owls are generally slimmer and have much longer, closer-set ear tufts that are often held erect, making their head appear very narrow. Their facial disc is more elongated, and their plumage is finer-barred. Their call is a soft, low 'hoo' repeated at intervals, very different from Noctowl's hooting.

Key differences

Short-eared Owls are typically found in open grasslands and marshes, not dense forests. They have very small, inconspicuous ear tufts, a pale facial disc, and often hunt during the day (crepuscular). Their flight is buoyant and moth-like, and their calls are barking or hissing.