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Eagle-owl
The American (North and South America) horned owls and the Old World eagle-owls make up the genus ''Bubo'', at least as traditionally described. The genus name ''Bubo'' is Latin for owl. This genus contains 10 species that are found in many parts of the world. Some of the largest living Strigiformes are in ''Bubo''. Traditionally, only owls with ear-tufts were included in this genus, but that is no longer the case. Taxonomy The genus ''Bubo'' was introduced in 1805 by the French zoologist André Duméril for the horned owls. The type species is the Eurasian eagle-owl. The word ''bubo'' is Latin for the Eurasian eagle owl and was used as the specific epithet for the species by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020 found that species in the genera ''Scotopelia'' and ''Ketupa'' were embedded within the clade containing members of the genus ''Bubo'' making the genus ''Bubo'' paraphyletic. To create monophyletic genera, nine species were move ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Eurasian Eagle-owl
The Eurasian eagle-owl (''Bubo bubo'') is a species of eagle-owl, a type of bird that resides in much of Eurasia. It is often just called the eagle-owl in Europe and Asia. It is one of the largest species of owl. Females can grow to a total length of , with a wingspan of . Males are slightly smaller.''Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide'' by Mikkola, H. Firefly Books (2012), This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish colouring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred. The underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker colouring. The facial disc is not very defined. The orange eyes are distinctive.Penteriani, V., & del Mar Delgado, M. (2019). ''The eagle owl''. Bloomsbury Publishing. At least 12 subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl are described. Eurasian eagle-owls are found in many habitats; mostly Mountain ecosystems, mountainous and Rock (geology), rocky areas, often near varied woodland edge and near shrubby a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Verreaux's Eagle-owl
Verreaux's eagle-owl (''Ketupa lactea''), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a member of the family Strigidae. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the genus '' Ketupa'', it is the largest African owl, measuring up to in total length. This eagle-owl is a resident primarily of dry, wooded savanna. Verreaux's eagle-owl is mainly grey in color and is distinguishable from other large owls by its bright pink eyelids, a feature shared with no other owl species in the world.König, C., & Weick, F. (2008). ''Owls of the World''. A&C Black. . Verreaux's eagle-owl is a highly opportunistic predator equipped with powerful talons. Just over half of its known diet is composed of mammals but equal or even greater numbers of birds and even insects may be hunted locally, along with any other appropriately sized prey that is encountered.Brown, L. H. (1965). "Observations on Verreaux's Eagle Owl ''Bubo lacteus'' (Temminck) in Kenya." ''Journa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
The spot-bellied eagle-owl (''Ketupa nipalensis''), also known as the forest eagle-owl is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance. It is a forest-inhabiting species found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This species is considered part of a superspecies with the barred eagle-owl (''Ketupa sumatrana''), which looks quite similar but is Allopatric speciation, allopatric in distribution. Taxonomy The spot-bellied eagle-owl, like its close relative, the barred eagle-owl, is one of the species that would have to be moved into ''Ketupa'' if that genus is to be retained, according to mtDNA cytochrome b, cytochrome ''b'' DNA sequence, sequence data (Olsen ''et al.'' 2002). Unlike the "fish owls" that were also considered to be included in ''Ketupa'', the barred and the spot-bellied species are not closely tied to riparian habitats and piscivorous eating habits. However, all eagle-owls and fish owls (as well as the snowy owl (''Bubo scandianus'')) were at one point ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl (''Bubo scandiacus''), also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. It has a number of unique adaptations to its habitat and lifestyle, which are quite distinct from other extant owls. One of the largest species of owl, it is the only owl with mainly white plumage. Males tend to be a purer white overall while females tend to have more extensive flecks of dark brown. Juvenile male snowy owls have dark markings and may appear similar to females until maturity, at which point they typically turn whiter. The composition of brown markings about the wing, although not foolproof, is the most reliable technique for aging and sexing individual snowy owls. Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is often active during the day, especially in the summertime. The snowy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Spotted Eagle-owl
The spotted eagle-owl (''Bubo africanus''), also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is and its weight is from . It has a wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species. Distribution Spotted eagle-owls are the most common species of owl found in southern Africa. They have a healthy population in most parts of the region. They are often referred to as urban owls and will live in close proximity to human habitation. They occur throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian peninsula. They can also be found in thorn savanna and in suburban gardens, such as the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe. Diet Its ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Greyish Eagle-owl
The greyish eagle-owl or vermiculated eagle-owl (''Bubo cinerascens'') is a rather large owl of the northern part of sub-Saharan Africa. It was previously regarded as the northern subspecies of the spotted eagle-owl (''Bubo africanus''). Description This species is about long and weighs about . Like the spotted eagle-owl, the greyish eagle-owl has mottled dark brown, buff, and white upperparts and finely barred (vermiculated) underparts giving a greyish-brown appearance. It differs from the spotted eagle-owl in having dark brown (not yellow) eyes and a brownish facial disk marked with a heavy brown circle around each eye. It also has morphological differences, such as being lighter though about the same length and having shorter tarsi. Voice As the greyish eagle-owl was considered the northern form of the spotted eagle-owl until recently their vocalisations have not been well studied. The call of the male recorded in West Africa consisted of two clear syllables and has been re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Cape Eagle-owl
The Cape eagle-owl (''Bubo capensis'') is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is one of several large species of the eagle-owl genus ''Bubo''. Range Its range is limited to the southernmost regions of southern Africa as well as parts of East Africa. Claims that this species is found in the southern Arabian Peninsula are erroneous and presumably due to confusion with '' Bubo milesi''. Habitat The Cape eagle-owl is primarily found in mountainous regions or hilly areas with rocks where they find areas to roost, but can also be found in adjacent woodlands, grasslands, and wooded gullies. They are found from sea level up to 2,500 meters above sea level. These owls may also wander into human settlements or even towns, often specifically to predate abundant pigeons. Description This is a large owl, though intermediate in size among other large ''Bubo'' owls. Its total length ranges from . Males weigh from while the larger females range from . The wing chord measures while t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Pharaoh Eagle-owl
The Pharaoh eagle-owl (''Bubo ascalaphus'') is a Middle Eastern and North African species of owl in the family Strigidae. Description The Pharaoh eagle-owl has a mottled plumage and large orange-yellow eyes. The head and upperparts are tawny and densely marked with black and creamy-white streaks and blotches, while the underparts are pale creamy-white, with black streaks on the upper breast and fine reddish-brown vermiculations on the lower breast and belly. The face has the disc-like form typical of most owls, defined by a dark rim, the robust bill is black and hooked, and the head is crowned with small ear tufts. With a body length of , it is one of the smaller eagle-owl species. Two subspecies have been named, ''B. a. ascalaphus'' and ''B. a. desertorum'', the latter formerly cited as being smaller and paler with sandier colour; they are no longer accepted as distinct, as the variation is continuous and without geographic basis, so the species now regarded as monotypic. Dist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Indian Eagle-owl
The Bengal eagle-owl (''Bubo bengalensis''), also widely known as the Indian eagle-owl or rock eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent. It is splashed with brown and grey, and has a white throat patch with black small stripes. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl. It is usually seen in pairs. It has a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk. Taxonomy ''Bubo bengalensis'' was the scientific name used by James Franklin in 1831 for an eagle-owl, that was collected in the Bengal region of the Indian Subcontinent. Description This species is often considered a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl ''Bubo bubo'' and is very similar in appearance. The facial disk is unmarked and has a black border, a feature that is much weaker in the Eurasian form. The base of the primaries is unbanded and rufous. The tail bands have the tawny bands wider than the black ones. A large ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Arabian Eagle-owl
The Arabian eagle-owl (''Bubo milesi'') is a true owl, of the family Strigidae, endemic to areas of the Arabian Peninsula, known from southwestern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Primarily, the species is known from the coastal areas and slightly inland of the peninsula, seemingly avoiding the most barren of the region's desert interior. It nests in wadis, cliffs, on canyon walls, large palms and other trees. A nocturnal hunter with naturally superb night vision, the Arabian eagle-owl primarily preys on rodents and other small animals. The unique tufts of feathers on its head (vaguely resembling "ears") serve to sharpen the owl's already-keen sense of hearing by directing delicate, nearly-inaudible sound waves toward its ears, enabling it to hear scurrying or digging small animals in the sand, even from a considerable distance. Similarly, the owl's rounded facial feathers, particularly surrounding the eyes—known as facial discs—filter light highly e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ketupa
''Ketupa'' is a genus of owls in the family Strigidae. The genus formerly contained just three species, the fish owls but based on the results from a genetic study published in 2020, the generic boundaries were altered. The genus now contains twelve species, nine of which were formerly placed in the genus ''Bubo''. Taxonomy The genus ''Ketupa'' was introduced in 1830 by the French naturalist René Lesson for fish owl species from Java and India. The type species is, by tautonymy, the buffy fish owl. The genus name is derived from the Malay word ''Ketupok'' for the buffy fish owl. This genus formerly contained fewer species. A molecular phylogenetic study of the typical owl family (Strigidae) published in 2020 and another study published in 2021 found that the genera ''Ketupa'' and ''Scotopelia'' were embedded in the genus ''Bubo'', rendering the genus paraphyletic. In a move to create monophyletic genera, nine species were moved from ''Bubo'' to ''Ketupa''. Four of these specie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Great Horned Owl (North America)
The great horned owl (''Bubo virginianus''), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air") or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice, and voles, although it freely hunts any animal it can overtake, including rodents and other small mammals, larger mid-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. In ornithological study, the great horned owl is often compared to the Eurasian eagle-owl (''Bubo bubo''), a closely related species, which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia despite its notably larger size. The great horned owl is also compared to the red-tailed hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis''), with which it often shares similar habitat, prey, and nesting habits by day; thus the red-tailed hawk is some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
