Búho vs. lechuza
In Spanish, both búho and lechuza mean owl, but they refer to different types of owls with distinct characteristics.
Búho
A2A búho typically refers to owls with prominent ear tufts or horns, like the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo).
El búho real es uno de los búhos más grandes del mundo.
(The Eurasian eagle-owl is one of the largest owls in the world.)
Los niños se fascinan al ver las orejas puntiagudas del búho en el zoológico.
(The children are fascinated to see the pointed ears of the owl at the zoo.)
Lechuza
A2Lechuza generally refers to owls without prominent ear tufts, such as barn owls (Tyto alba). They often have a heart-shaped face.
La lechuza común se caracteriza por su cara en forma de corazón.
(The common barn owl is characterized by its heart-shaped face.)
Durante la noche, escuchábamos el canto de una lechuza cerca de la casa.
(During the night, we heard the call of an owl near the house.)
Summary
In summary, while both búho and lechuza mean owl, búho refers to owls with ear tufts, and lechuza refers to those without. Understanding these distinctions can help in identifying and discussing these fascinating birds more accurately.