Differences between Blackbird and Owl

Blackbird and Owl are two classes of birds that belong to the Icteridae and Tytonidae families respectively.

The New World Blackbirds are tiny songbirds. They have glossy plumage. While the male have black feathers, orange beaks, and orange rings around their eyes, the feathers of the female are a paler black or brown with their beaks and eye rims being yellow. There are about 26 species of Blackbirds. Some of them are Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Red-winged Blackbird.

Owl is a large nocturnal bird. It has a round and flat face with hooked beaks, static eyes, and large ears. Its neck is flexible and can turn over 180 degrees on both sides. This allows the bird to look around and backward even with its fixed eyes. The bird cannot see color but its visual clarity is sharp. Its ears are asymmetrical but acute in discerning sounds from different dimensions. Owl is commonly seen standing in upright position. Its plumage is soft and heavy. The color varies for different species, from grey to brown to reddish brown. The plumage mostly have markings on them, camouflaging the owl amidst dense foliage. The fossils of owls are dated back to over 65.5 million years. At present, there are about 250 species in the Owl family.

Where are Blackbird and Owl found?

Blackbirds live in swamps, meadows, wetlands, forests, agricultural lands, parks, farms, and cities. They are distributed across North America, South America, Canada, Europe, and parts of Russia. They have also been introduced in Australia and New Zealand.

Owls live in diverse habitats such as forests, mountains, plains, and deserts. The Snowy Owl lives in the frigid regions of North Pole. Species like Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl can be found in cities. Owls can be found in all countries of the world except Antarctica.

What do Blackbird and Owl eat?

Blackbirds are omnivores. They eat worms, ants, spiders, insects, grasshoppers, beetles, small reptiles and amphibians, seeds, berries, and fruits.

Owls are carnivorous birds. Their diet depends on food sources in their environment. Owls eat insects, rodents, crabs, snails, small birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Blackbird and Owl

• Both Blackbird and Owl eat Fish.
• Both Blackbird and Owl eat Frogs.
• Both Blackbird and Owl eat Lizards.
• Both Blackbird and Owl eat Snakes.
• Blackbird do not eat Turtles while Owl eat Turtles.
• Blackbird do not eat Squirrels while Owl eat Squirrels.
• Blackbird do not eat Gophers while Owl eat Gophers.
• Blackbird do not eat Baby Ducks while Owl eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are eaten by both Blackbird and Owl.

Size of Blackbird and Owl?

When it comes to size, Blackbirds are small birds. They are about seven to 10 inches long with a wingspan of 13 inches.. The owls measure 0.4-2.3 feet in length with a wingspan of 1-6.6 feet. Elf Owl, which is the smallest in the family, is about 0.5 feet tall. Blakiston Fish Owl, the largest Owl species, is 2.3 feet tall.

As Blackbirds are petite, their average weight is only two to four ounces. while The weight of Owls varies for different species. Elf Owl weighs about 1.5 ounce, while the large North American Owl weighs about 8.8 pounds.

Where do Blackbird and Owl nest?

Blackbirds construct their nests in trees, shrubs, tree holes, or cavities in the ground. The nests are shaped like small cups and are made of twigs, grass, and other plant material. The nests are lined with mud and fine grass. The female bird builds the nest about two weeks before the breeding season. She uses the well-constructed nests for multiple broods in the season. The eggs are bluish green with brown spots. They are incubated by the female for 13-14 days. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are about two weeks old.

Owls do not build nests. They use holes in trees, quiet places in barns and buildings, caves, natural cavities in river banks, and nests of other birds to lay their eggs. The female Owl starts incubating the eggs when the first one is laid. She lays eggs two to three days apart. Consequently, the eggs do not hatch synchronously. In the nesting season, the female develops additional feathers, called brood patch, on her belly to provide warmth during incubation. The eggs hatch 32 days after incubation. The young ones fledge when they are six to eight weeks old.

How long do Blackbird and Owl live?

The average lifespan of blackbirds is 2.4-3.4 years. According to bird ringing data, the longest-lived blackbird was 21 years and 10 months old. It lived in the UK.

The average lifespan of Owls in the wild is five to 12 years. Larger Owls may live longer, sometimes up to 25 years. The oldest Owl, which was a female Great Horned Owl, turned 50 years in 2012. She lived in captivity at the San Francisco Zoo.

Are Blackbird or Owl migratory birds?

Blackbirds migrate or reside in the same territory throughout the year depending on geography. The ones in the UK are residents. Birds from northern Europe migrate to UK during winters. Red-winged Blackbirds migrate from Canada and other countries in northern parts of North America to spend winters in southern parts of the continent. Some Blackbirds of Russia reside in the same place for winters, while some travel towards the south or east.

Not all Owl species are migratory. Some relocate to warmer regions during winters. However, some Owls remain in their territories even in winters. The Great Gray Owl and the Great Horned Owl of Canada are resident species. The Snowy Owl that lives in the North Pole migrates to Canada and USA during winters. In Europe, the Scops Owls migrates to the tip of the Sahara Desert. The Short-Eared Owl is another migratory Owl from India that travels long distances, sometimes even crossing oceans.

Do Blackbird and Owl fly in flocks?

A group of Blackbirds is known as a cluster, cloud, or merl. Blackbirds are mostly solitary. They live in their own territories or interact with small groups of their own species. The birds however flock in large numbers during migration.

A group of Owls is called a parliament. Owls are extreme loners and prefer solitary existence. They rarely flock aside the breeding season. They sometimes roost in small groups or in pairs for warmth in cold temperatures.

Are Blackbird or Owl protected?

Blackbirds are protected in their resident countries under wildlife protection laws. Harming or hunting them is prohibited in these countries. However, Blackbirds destroying crops in Australia can be killed.

Owls are protected in most countries like the USA, UK, India, Canada, and Japan. They do not enjoy protection in some countries, while in some others only the endangered species are protected.

Are Blackbird or Owl endangered?

Blackbirds are not endangered. They are the highest breeding birds in the UK. They live in plenty in Europe. Rusty Blackbird is one species that is listed as vulnerable in Canada. Its population is also reducing in North America.

Some species of Owls are endangered and face threat of extinction. These include Pernambuco Pygmy Owl, Siau Scops Owl, Forest Owl, Moheli Scops Owl, Congo Bay Owl, and Long-Whiskered Owlet. The population of Owls is threatened by loss of habitat, lack of food sources, hunting, and climate change.

Can Blackbird and Owl fly?

Blackbirds fly short to long distances during migration. They may travel 100-800 miles in winters. They prefer flying in large flocks while travelling.

Owls are known to fly without making any sound. The comb-like design on the edges of their feathers and their large wings enable them to fly noiselessly. They fly slowly, without flapping their wings too much. Some species of Owls fly at a speed of just two miles an hour, while the faster species can reach 40 miles per hour.

Can Blackbird and Owl swim?

Blackbirds are good swimmers. They can dive and swim underwater to catch a fish.

Owls are not natural swimmers. They do not have webbed feet. However, they can manage to swim if they happen to accidentally fall in water.

Mating patterns among Blackbird and Owl

Blackbirds reach sexual maturity when they are a year old. They are more friendly during the breeding season. During courtship, the male attracts the female by running sideways and making head movements. He also tries to sing to woo her. It is the female’s responsibility to construct the nest and incubate the eggs. Once the eggs hatch, both partners share responsibility to feed the young ones.

Owls start mating when they are two to three years old. During the mating season, the male and female Owls perform mating dances. They also hoot mating calls that boost their bond and keep away other Owls from their territory. The male may get a prey as offering to the female to woo her. In some species, partners may engage in giggling and snapping of bills as part of mating ritual. The female may lay one to 15 eggs in a breeding season, however not all at once. It is her responsibility to lay eggs, incubate and hatch them. Once the chicks are born, the male may fetch food for them and give it to the female.

When is the mating season for Blackbird and Owl ?

The mating season for Blackbirds generally occurs during March-July. The birds raise three to four broods in a single breeding season.

The mating season for Owls is generally spring every year. However, some species mate during winter months.

Do Blackbird and Owl mate for life?

Blackbirds are mostly monogamous. The partners mate for life and defend their territories with their partners. In case of unsuccessful broods or loss of brood to a predator, the male may seek a new partner while the female prepares herself for the next brood.

Owls are devoted partners. They mate for life. They also use the same nesting site year after year.

How do Blackbird and Owl sleep?

Blackbirds are nocturnal, although they may nap during the day. They sleep in tree holes and cavities. In winters, they may roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

Owls are nocturnal birds. They sleep either on trees or on the ground while standing and keeping their eyes closed. Most species are awake during the night when they hunt. They mostly sleep during the day.

Can Blackbird and Owl be eaten?

Blackbirds are known to taste bitter. Their meat were consumed in the past in Ireland and parts of Europe. However, the tradition is fading away. Conservation laws also do not permit killing of Blackbirds for meat.

Humans are not known to have consumed Owls. The birds do not have much meat on them. Their taste is known to be unpalatable.

Can you hunt Blackbird or Owl?

Blackbirds were hunted for meat. They were also killed for destroying farms and crops. Modern laws do not permit hunting of the birds. However, in Australia, Blackbirds are considered as pests and allowed to be killed to protect commercial crops.

Owls are typically not hunted. Only in cases when they cause trouble, people hunt them or capture them and release them in the wild. Hunting or harming Owls is not allowed in many countries.

Can you feed Blackbird or Owl?

Blackbirds can be given worms, oats, maize, and dried fruits. In captivity, they are fed with grasshoppers, worms, ants, beetles, spiders, and dried fruits.

Most countries do not permit owning or feeding of Owls. In captivity, the birds are fed rodents, chicken, meat, and worms.