Title photo by Lucas Quivira Flores

We’re all probably well familiar with the Great Horned Owl, especially in North and South America where it is one of the biggest and most powerful birds in the sky. But have you ever seen its cousin, the Lesser Horned Owl?

This owl is found along the western part of South America. It was formerly classed as a subspecies of the GHO, but the differences in calls, body size, and a number of generic differences, they are now their own separate species.

I’ve highlighted some of the visual differences. The plumicorns in the head are smaller, the chest has dark splotches, the feather base color is more grey-brown, with a denser pattern of thinner horizontal barring. The feet are also smaller and less powerful.

Photo by Jorge Vidal Melián