The owl and eagle owl are typical representatives of group sovoobrazny. These birds have both some similarities, and a number of essential differences. Both of these birds – the predators leading mainly a nocturnalism, possessing big round eyes and similar silhouettes.
Appearance of an owl and eagle owlThe main difference of owls from eagle owls consists in appearance of these birds. Eagle owls are much larger than ordinary owls, length of a body of some of them reaches 70 cm, and weight – 4 kg. The weight of an owl seldom exceeds 2 kg.
The most noticeable external difference of an owl and eagle owl is an existence of "ears". At owls plumage on the head equal, and at emergence of a silhouette of an eagle owl on the head the feathers which are sticking out up reminding ears are visible at once.
"Ears" on the head of an eagle owl play a role not only jewelry. Thanks to them the bird is capable to catch sounds several times better than an owl.
The third external difference of an eagle owl from an owl – a plumage color. Feathers of an owl are painted, as a rule, almost monophonically. Only in some places color can darken or be lighter. There are separate types of owls who possess absolutely snow-white coloring. The front disk can not differ in color from a body of an owl, at some individuals masks in the form of black contours of eyes and the darkened small beards are noticeable. Plumage on the head of an eagle owl differs in special brightness. This bird has no front disk. White or gray spots in the form of an arch are located over eyes, under a beak – a black spot, a so-called small beard. Around eyes there is a wide black contour, and on both sides from a beak – arc-shaped white or light gray spots. Black feathers over eyes smoothly pass into an outline of "ears". Besides, plumage of a body of an eagle owl never is monophonic. The reddish-pale-yellow color is combined with the dark strips located on a back and the head.
The big-eared owl very much resembles an eagle owl thanks to existence on the head of "ears" superficially. However, unlike the large relative, the bird does not differ in the big sizes, and a color of her body mainly monophonic.
Way of life and food allowanceDifferences of an eagle owl from an owl are observed not only in externally look, but also in a way of life. Owls hunt only at night day. The eagle owl can be awake not only at night, but also in the afternoon. The owl eats mainly small rodents. The eagle owl, thanks to the impressive sizes of a body is capable to catch not only mice, but also larger animals. The hares, cubs of some animals, birds conceding to an eagle owl at a rate of a body quite often get to a diet of this bird. The eagle owl hunts even small roes. During flight the eagle owl makes a set of sounds some of which remind whistle. Flight of an owl cannot be heard, she does it absolutely silently. There is such effect because of a difference in plumage of wings. At owls the ends of wings are rounded off, and at eagle owls they remind the pointed form more. For this reason the owl during flight soars, and the eagle owl cuts air, making at the same time characteristic sounds. It is also worth noting that the eagle owl is quite rare bird which is not so simple for seeing in the habitat. Eagle owls are included in the Red List and recognized as an endangered species. There is a lot of types of owls, they live practically in any territory.