Snowy Owl vs. Peregrine Falcon

Remarkable footage of two Peregrine Falcons harrying Snowy Owls on a beach in New Jersey, December 2013. Filmed and narrated by Tom Johnson. See more photos and video by Tom Johnson at:
flickr.com/bonx...
vimeo.com/m/use...
More on these species at All About Birds:
Snowy Owl
www.allaboutbir...
Peregrine Falcon
www.allaboutbir...

[@jaredt-f3007]

I love both birds

[@raymondquadros7142]

Happy to know, that none of the Magnificent Birds were hurt or killed.

[@michaellindsey31]

RIGHT ON

[@starrychloe]

I wouldn’t even know who to root for.

[@ArieteArmsRAMLITE]

Err nature is brutal. Genesis tells you why....

[@purpleemerald5299]

*_Yet._*

[@humuhumunukunukuapuaa7372]

Probably just fighting over resources

[@ruiyaxiao8520]

snowy owl looks like a fat flying cat.so adorable!!!!!Cutest ever!

[@legendrexy]

it ain't called cat-head hawk for nothing.

[@MrSlanderer]

Yeah, please don’t buy one to impress your friends. You’ll just get lazy and stop caring within a month...

[@EllaTrigger]

Well I do love owls but ok

[@AlPootis]

@@EllaTrigger I love them to.

[@ezioauditore107]

I always hate when someone compare or pair a majestic animal to a house Cat... ughhh I still love dogs than lazy Cats

[@waywardmuse]

I would love to see a snowy owl in the wild some day! they are so gorgeous!

[@deboerdaan]

beautiful birds both owl and falcons )

[@Turtleback8024]

@shut beak Close up... you will change your mind. Both birds are exquisite! Such is the nature of God spoken into existence by the Word himself... Jesus Christ.🙋🏾

[@Lisi_wolves]

This is an owl and not bird

[@sibo12107]

@@Lisi_wolvesOwls ARE birds

[@SyllvurGaming]

"Eventually, when the falcon finally left to..." The owl took a shit.. Why is this funny to me?

[@powerblaze2u]

thinks thats their impression of the middle finger

[@jimfackler1683]

+Ember Waves Birds often defecate prior to flight. Especially when threatened.

[@gonjoguaiya926]

i was laughing at that too. haha

[@cintulator2]

Because everything that the owl does is funny!

[@tusheschannel]

'the next day...'Snowy owl: Fucking falcons!

[@joes.2111]

I see the snowy owl has been watching the karate kid and was ready to institute the crane kick.

[@billyandrew]

Snow owl: *"Just wait 'til dark, just you wait!"*

[@ezioauditore107]

Falcon: So silent.. imma go to sleep *Forever Sleep*

[@kenesuaraara8338]

Lmao theres actually a video of that. Great horned owl attacks the nest of a peregrine and snatches all baby peregrines from its mother

[@mnkash2007]

Snowy owls are actually diurnal means Active At day

[@billyandrew]

@@mnkash2007 I didn't know that, Nancy, so thank you for that information. Makes my comment less funny now. 😜😂😂😂

[@prllytrnton2396]

Snow Owl is Diurnal, Bro

[@juanjelokodelavida]

Hedwing RUN!!

[@RobloxBoy4375]

daAnder71 yes

[@RobloxBoy4375]

Also there are 7 books

[@AUTUMNCODM]

daAnder71 don’t you ever diss Harry Potter again

[@49rudy]

@@AUTUMNCODM e/+

[@LakerLife]

run or fly? =)

[@terrispoonemore4983]

The owls are very interesting.so amazing to watch.

[@HgHg-yp6ft]

Owls could wreck havoc on the other raptors nests during the night hours given a chance{proximity}. That might explain falcons behavior, they would not want any owls in their territory.

[@Turtleback8024]

True that.

[@troo_6656]

In any other owl species, yes. But Snowy Owl isn't nocternal, they hunt at any hour and the falcon just defends itself in general because it's awake

[@dakotablue52]

Not once - but a "Twice in a Lifetime " Experience for you both. My birding companion and I, whom do regular, if not daily counts at a recovering creek in our town, were at our spot for ten minutes and saw a Red-Tailed Hawk perched nearby. We took photos and used the zoom function but did not get closer. But other visitors, unaware of this full-grown male hawk, walked their dog or strolled with their baby and the hawk was unimpressed by anyone whom passed by, garnering our admiration.

[@-NoneOfYourBusiness]

That was a GREAT footage.

[@Habibi1010]

What a beautiful owl.

[@abbeykroeter]

You got to see two magnificent birds! A lot of birders travel just to get a glimpse of them.

[@carlallen2473]

The owl at the end is just like "OHH FUCK are they gone....I think I'm goo- OHH FUCK"

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Thank you for capturing and sharing this video.

[@AsYourCruiseDirector]

Aww, poor Snowys!

[@kitkat8986]

Legend is that they are still fighting

[@cafassiticul]

Amazing quality of image! Great work👍

[@jordalf3878]

Fascinating. Another great video.

[@MaxKingsbury]

Wow, great footage!

[@ronmann1374]

We've had Peregrine Falcons raise young in the pipe chases at our plant in Kingsport TN, There is nothing like walking down the process and having the juveniles meet you in the alley ways.

[@shepsoful]

Beautiful birds.

[@Lisi_wolves]

it is an owl not a bird

[@LudicrousCunningFox]

@@Lisi_wolves Owls are a type of bird.

[@Lisi_wolves]

@@LudicrousCunningFox I know it's a species of bird but the animal itself is not a bird

[@Cheshire-q4s]

"A more welcoming stretch of the Jersey Shore"? That's like "searched for a less crazy part of Florida" 😂

[@prettyanddepressed4350]

Lmao the owl be like "I wish yo ass would try me at night!"

[@denisdupuis6531]

Snowy Owl feed in the day as well, during the summer the Artic is daylight 7/24. Its more like see my big wings and body I am bigger and more powerful your just faster.

[@prettyanddepressed4350]

Denis Dupuis but they're more active and more defensive at night

[@denisdupuis6531]

Population Their local numbers are high when the lemming population they prey on is high and lower when the lemming population is low. Range In North America, snowy owls are found during the breeding season from the western Aleutians in Alaska to northeastern Manitoba (Churchill), northern Quebec and northern Labrador in Canada. In the winter, they can regularly be found in the northern United States. Sporadically they can be found as far south as central California as well as in Texas and Florida. Behavior Unlike most other owl species, snowy owls hunt mainly in the daytime. Snowy owls are highly nomadic and their movements are tied to the abundance of their primary prey species, lemmings. They are known to aggressively defend their nests and will attack those that disturb their nests.

[@prettyanddepressed4350]

Oh

[@mustyfan1584]

Gifted rose Snowy owls are extremely powerful birds, and will even attack wolves that come to close to their ground nests. I don't think daytime phased the powerful bird too much, but it was a funny joke nonetheless :)

[@5oclockbanana412]

Fantastic footage. Great job!

[@donc2446]

So, this is more like a trading of insults than a real VS.

[@hollypotthoff8965]

Fantastic footage!

[@cj222100]

There are snowy owls in NJ!?! I seriously had no clue you could find them there, I'd always assumed they lived much farther north, maybe northern Canada, Alaska, etc They are my favorite bird & I would be so happy if I actually saw one one day!

[@donaldvanvliet9039]

I think that was a rare sighting of an owl who got lost and strayed too far south. They do live much farther north.

[@jessewru6425]

When their food source of lemmings is too low they choose to move south temporarily for better food.

[@mk6315]

Vacation days are allowed in nature

[@Kjell_H]

Wow...as mentioned by Max K.....outstanding footage. Once in a lifetime experience.

[@509kch]

Thanks for this great footage!!

[@jaykeyz9094]

beautiful owl

[@stuarth43]

always amazes me the owl can rotate it's head so far

[@JA51711]

Incredible how skilled and fast those falcons are! The owls are gorgeous. Glad all were okay. 🙏. Great sighting

[@mfrank3518]

That owl is beautiful

[@samwright5653]

Great video

[@pip-will-tell-nothing9247]

Wonderful filming

[@OlgaNovakauskiene]

Wonderful Thank you

[@ClaudiaGuajardoYeo]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. One question, isn't this snowy owl way South from his normal territory? It's amazing this was seen in New Jersey!

[@CrazyFunnyCats]

Wow great footage!

[@mosfun]

stunning capture!

[@karlfalckh3498]

I remember 2 ospreys doing that to me and my dad when we were fishing. My dad told me to tuck my head into my hoodie or they might get my eyes. That's when the tears started flowing

[@sharokhjoudi4693]

Thank you very much your beautiful videos

[@orikamii2782]

The owl pooped

[@snowy7177]

True story, it pooped

[@Egguana_]

That was not needed and extremely harsh, take a chill pill. Suicide is a serious thing.

[@nimijinn3696]

@@Egguana_ Wot?

[@cubingwithcarl4572]

Klay Long they usually do that right before they fly away

[@johndenicola6173]

@@cubingwithcarl4572 Yup, All raptors have that behavior - Eagles, Hawks, Owls, and yes, peregrine falcons (I've seen this while photographing). I always wondered why they do that....

[@zeeox]

My word... what quality footage... and what an encounter!

[@thewidowmaker4037]

It is funny how people are saying just wait till the night, you'll be sorry when the sun goes down blah blah blah, the thing is Snowy Owls are most active at dawn and dusk and during the day otherwise known as Crepuscular. As for the Peregrine side of things the female will stay with the chicks 24/7 with the male providing the meals.

[@NickMonteleone]

Beautiful owl

[@sweeptheleg.]

Those falcons are just like surfers.

[@ernestoquintero747]

Awesome nature captured on video.

[@seecanon5840]

Beautiful owl. Nice looking pair of falcons.

[@stevewesthead]

Stumbled upon this video and can’t believe this was in Stone Harbor!! What street??

[@nameofthepen]

Great footage!

[@gigicaito]

WOW! Thank you for sharing this.

[@cappystrano1]

The first owl didn’t leave till he shit on the peregrines territory😂

[@smiffywildlife]

Spectacular,and fantastic quality.I wish I could have been there in person.I don't know whether you live close by,but you are so privileged if you do.Keep on filming!!!!!

[@mattadrev471]

great capture!

[@cryo4042]

Ok let me break this down, HOW CAN I PEREGRINE FALCON KILL A SNOWY OWL. That snowy owl knows peregrine falcons are masters of aerial flight, so it stays on the ground like a smart person would do, the peregrine can't fly into it, the snowy owl would see and jump and turn its back to the the ground while a little above ground and snatch it. (I saw a snowy owl do that on footage) and if the peregrine dived it would kill itself, that snowy owl would see and get away, as the peregrine smashes its body. End of discussion, this is no match at all.

[@profnkb]

"They are normally dominant over other raptors although may (sometimes fatally) lose in conflicts to large raptors such as other Bubo owls, golden eagles and the smaller but much faster peregrine falcons."

[@kevinwayne373]

The Falcon is not trying to kill the owl, just pester it until it leaves. You see that behavior in the sky with many other bird species. Birds rob each other's nests. At night the Owl will find the Falcon's nest and . . .

[@gab-bj9wf]

I wonder what it would be like if humans fought like this. Seeing some dude raising his arms at another guy just running by him in circles...

[@kevinwayne373]

I agree, that would be so cool looking. Screeching like birds. Imagine entire countries doing this instead of war. The winner does the most circles. End of war.

[@walterbyrd8380]

My neighbor has a fake owl on her balcony - I guess to scare away pigeons. A sharp shinned hawk got in a fight with the fake owl - swooping a shreaking .

[@georgedobbs9216]

Are you gonna tell us . . . ? Who won?

[@TTony-tu6dm]

You’ll notice the falcons maintain a distance. Don’t want to meet up with those owl talons

[@Nyaochan]

Methinks they don't like sharing their territory with an owl.

[@Uncagethewild]

Wow ❣️....sighting of lifetime 👍👍👍👍

[@r.ridderbusch7303]

This came up in suggestions in 2020. Where has this been hiding for so long? Nice!

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

"Aight, I'll leave but I'm takin' a shit first"

[@cringeycrisp4416]

This was great

[@JWY]

Not a snow owl but about that size I watched a barn owl in the woods near my place. After it took note of me, over 100 feet away, it decided to fly away landing on a branch at least 500 feet off - when it landed and grabbed the branch there I heard it distinctly - sounding exactly like an axe biting into hard wood swung full force.

[@carpentertemple843]

Snowy Owl .. Such a noble man with wings.

[@shanedd6704]

Peregrines are capable of killing any bird in the air by diving on there prey

[@onclebob2178]

true! even an eagle is no match for a falcon in the sky. It's not gonna kill it of course .Just makes it fall from the sky.

[@bkjeong4302]

Oncle Bob There are records of peregrines killing eagles five times their size.

[@misterman3187]

Shane DD i wouldn't want to dive head on at 200mph into an owl who's on the ground.

[@noelchignell1048]

@daAnder71 seen footage of Falcons strike Great Pelicans (which are over 2m wingspan) making them crash to the ground

[@noelleslie6665]

Owls are quite aggressive, powerful and silent killers. Falcon has speed.

[@TheCrystOpia]

Owls are so beautiful and mystical

[@Tigerpuffer]

Something passed by in the water around :49. Perhaps a harbor seal?

[@mariebernier3076]

Wharer in the image?

[@Tigerpuffer]

Just beneath the left wing of the owl.

[@DPS1194]

Two different raptors, same same hunting instinct.

[@greenleader4517]

awesome video ,congrats

[@--Paws--]

Just realized most birds do the same display of presenting their wings, like the White Breasted Nuthatch, to express themselves.

[@JM-pz6bh]

Birds have very innate bird behavior and when you see it in one bird you will see it in all of them.

[@boofdfast]

For the person who said they like owls and raptors...Owls ARE raptors! Raptors are birds of prey, or birds who "grasp" their prey by the use of talons. Raptors include eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, and kites.

[@cupofjohoe]

boofdfast *cough cough* osprey

[@georgehunter2813]

Going airborne to vacate while the two falcons were in the area was risky move by the owl.

[@A_A_J.]

Speed versus stealth.

[@johnrawlins6147]

Fantastic owl

[@joelcustodio9328]

Wow owl head 360 degree just like IP CAM.

[@WSOJ3]

Owls some times attack other birds nests at night to steal chicks and eggs. That's probably why those 2 falcons were so alert, they probably have a nest near by with eggs or babies in.

[@KaressaMareko]

Nice story

[@scottmontgomery4537]

Good stuff. thanks.

[@Ari.1996]

Snowy white owl😍❤❤❤

[@SolBadguyZAC]

Misleading video title. Should be "Snowy Owl vs multiple Peregrine falcons". Makes one think this was some sort of battle video.

[@LyndseyMacPherson]

Poor owl, just sitting there, minding his own business...some falcons are just busybodies, I tellya! :D (Honestly, not taking sides--love both falcons and owls SO MUCH!)

[@herauthon]

the Falcons - NOT waring bodycams.. so against the rules of engagement !

[@phyllisnunn2061]

Wow!! Amazing!!!!

[@cmdmd]

Yet, a bottle of champagne would knock him out.

[@laughtoohard9655]

I can understand the Peregrine's going after the owl's to scare them away, but not for lunch.

[@metalgearjay]

Is Jersey a normal place for a snowy owl?

[@716killakev]

Whenever I see "vs" I assume it's a fight... So I clicked expecting a fight... I did not get a fight... Now I want to fight...

[@rahulsharma-gw7fc]

Bro is lucky if it is still alive.

[@carolyngritter9862]

Yesterday's "Boston Globe" had a story about the increased number of Snowy Owls in the marshy area around Logan International Airport. The Massachusetts Port Authority takes great pains to capture and relocate the birds to prevent air traffic accidents. In contrast, New York had incurred public outrage by shooting the owls, and as a result, has begun to adopt Boston's owl control methods.

[@szaki]

Owls are silent fliers, have special fathers on it's wings, so they can sneak upon mice and other rodents that has very sophisticated hearing. Maybe that's why the falcons were uncomfortable about the owl being around their nest or hunting area.

[@undertyped1]

If that owl dares to fly, he will get destroyed. The falcons don't want to take the risk of dive bombing the owl at the ground, because it could suffer serious injury from slamming into the ground

[@shoshanabinyamin]

Hedwig vs ariazor in beast mode

[@christiancowboy100]

Owl is like "Ah Crap." Hey people I was listening to NPR and they said the Snowy Owl's numbers were increasing which is why you are seeing them winter more in the South. And if you love birds of prey so much, do you also complain about how many of them are killed by windmills.

[@omitnot]

great sighting !

[@victorhopper6774]

guess what happens when a 30 inch great horned moves into the neighborhood? suitcase sales go through the roof!