Page 242 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

OWLS
Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Species Bubo bubo
Eagle Owl pale “V” on large, deep
upper face
orange eye,
circled with
black
dark brown wings
with pale patch large ear tufts,
usually angled pale area
in shallow “V” around bill
black marbling
and streaking
on back
boldly
streaked,
pale
underside

IN FLIGHT

massive bird and one of Europe’s most powerful predators,
Athe Eagle Owl even kills other owls and birds of prey quite
frequently in order to claim exclusive use of territory. Mostly a
bird of cliffs and crags, it may be found relatively close to villages
and farms,although many prefer wilder places remote from
human habitation. It calls early in the year and is not
at all easy to track down in summer: careful scrutiny
of likely ledges, cavities, and trees on occupied cliffs is
often to no avail. Its huge eyes give it really exceptional
vision in poor light and hunting is almost entirely nocturnal. FLIGHT: direct, heavy but strong; wings slightly
VOICE Song deep,booming hoot,oo-hu,carries 2–4km (1–2 ⁄2 miles); arched in frequent glides; head looks very big.
1
also loud barking alarm notes, kvek, kwa,
or kwa-kwa-kwa.
NESTING Unlined cavity in tree or deep,
sheltered cliff ledge; 2 or 3 eggs; 1 brood;
April–May.
FEEDING Eats wide range of food from small
rodents to much bigger prey, including birds
such as crows, pigeons, and thrushes, and small
mammals such as rats, hares, and squirrels. ELUSIVE OWL
REMARK Subspecies B. b. ascalaphus (Middle Good camouflage colours render immobile
East) is paler, buff below, and has yellower eyes. Eagle Owls extremely difficult to spot.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread in mainland Europe
no ear no ear tufts but everywhere sparse, mostly
tufts in forested mountain areas with
dark eye
much smaller gorges, cliffs, and deep ravines
smaller and smaller with deep caves or large ledges,
slimmer and on big, old trees. Not found
outside usual breeding areas.
LONG-EARED OWL TAWNY OWL BUZZARD Seen in the UK
see p.242 see p.239 see p.136 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 59–73cm (23–29in) Wingspan 1.38–1.7m (4 1 ⁄2 –5 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 1.5 –3kg (3 1 ⁄4 –6 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Solitary Lifespan 10–20 years Status Vulnerable
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