---
title: "Great horned owl vs peregrine falcon — size, weight and speed "
description: "Great horned owl is 1.6× peregrine falcon on weight. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-horned-owl-vs-peregrine-falcon/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Great horned owl vs Peregrine falcon

**Great horned owl vs peregrine falcon: Great horned owl is larger on weight**

Great horned owl is 1.6× peregrine falcon on weight.

A great horned owl and a peregrine falcon can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

## Side by side

*Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.*

|  | Great horned owl | Peregrine falcon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 0.68–2.5 kg | 0.33–1.5 kg |
| Length | 0.43–0.64 m | 0.34–0.58 m |
| Width | 0.91–1.53 m | 0.74–1.2 m |
| Typical lifespan | 10–28 yr | 8–19 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Great horned owl is 1.6× peregrine falcon on weight.
- Great horned owl is somewhat greater than peregrine falcon on length — about 1.2×.
- Great horned owl is somewhat greater than peregrine falcon on width — about 1.1×.
- Great horned owl and peregrine falcon are near enough identical on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- Great horned owl: 0.68–2.5 kg
- Peregrine falcon: 0.33–1.5 kg

## Great horned owl

North America's most widespread large owl, with a grip strong enough to take skunks and other raptors.

## Peregrine falcon

The fastest animal on Earth, reaching over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop.

> This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

## Common questions

### Which is bigger, great horned owl or peregrine falcon?

Great horned owl is 1.6× peregrine falcon on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do great horned owls and peregrine falcons compare on length?

Great horned owl: 0.43–0.64 m. Peregrine falcon: 0.34–0.58 m. Great horned owl is somewhat greater than peregrine falcon on length — about 1.2×.

### How do great horned owls and peregrine falcons compare on width?

Great horned owl: 0.91–1.53 m. Peregrine falcon: 0.74–1.2 m. Great horned owl is somewhat greater than peregrine falcon on width — about 1.1×.

## Related pages

- [Mallard vs peregrine falcon](https://atoneplace.net/vs/mallard-vs-peregrine-falcon/)
- [Great horned owl vs mallard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-horned-owl-vs-mallard/)
- [Black mamba vs peregrine falcon](https://atoneplace.net/vs/black-mamba-vs-peregrine-falcon/)

## Sources

- Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (https://www.wikidata.org/) [CC0 1.0]
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)