Common eagle owl. Species: Bubo bubo = Common Eagle Owl

Eagle owls are predators at night. Very beautiful and proud, they are one of the largest birds in nature. Their size, as well as their appetites, loud voices and lifestyle, caused many unfounded fears. In various fairy tales and legends you can find many references to eagle owls in a very negative way.

Appearance

Depending on the species they belong to, their appearance can vary quite a bit. The size of eagle owls can range from 39 cm to 71 cm, and the weight of individual individuals sometimes reaches 4.6 kg. The average weight of birds is within 2-3 kg. It is believed that birds of the southern zones are smaller and lighter than their feathered counterparts of the northern ranges. In addition, eagle owls have very pronounced sexual dimorphism - females are always larger than males.

This is interesting! Most eagle owls are stocky birds with strong, short legs and a barrel-shaped body. The fingers are long, very flexible and tenacious, ending in hooked black claws.

This is a very dangerous weapon - its claws, sharp as knives, easily dig into the flesh of the victim, touching and destroying large blood vessels. Death occurs not so much from the number of wounds as from bleeding. The plumage of the tarsus and toes, or the absence thereof, is one of the key species characteristics.

The plumage is quite thick, but at the same time loose, which ensures noiseless movements. The color of the plumage largely depends on the habitat and is protective - camouflage for eagle owls is a vital necessity during the day. In daylight they can become an object of attack from other birds. The general tone of the plumage is brown with yellowish tints, or rusty-yellow, in the northern regions it is ash-smoky, with various species patterns of brown and black.

On the head there are noticeable elongated tufts of feathers that have vertical mobility depending on the mood of the bird. Their direct relationship to the hearing aid has not been scientifically proven. Some ornithologists consider them to be a kind of initial sound catchers - a kind of auricle.

The wingspan sometimes reaches two or more meters, and the flight is a mesmerizing spectacle. The strokes are rare and deep, alternating with planning. They develop greater speed only when they see prey and the need arises to grab it. Tails are short or medium length, rounded, and play a significant role in gliding.

The eagle owl's eyes are especially interesting: large and rounded, with bright orange, yellow or red irises. Only one species has brown eyes. They always look only forward and remain motionless. Only the head turns - the bird can turn it 270 degrees. Contrary to popular belief that eagle owls see almost nothing during the day, their vision, even during daylight hours, has a high range.

The voice of the eagle owl is also noteworthy. Of all owls, they have a very complex and varied “repertoire”. For example, the Nepalese eagle owl's sounds resemble human speech, which makes the bird very frightening to the local population. During the mating season, birds become very talkative - their sounds resemble crying, cackling, coughing, humming and mournful howling. For these sounds, in some countries eagle owls are called scarecrows, and their night cackle has given rise to many legends about goblin and kikimoras living in the forest thicket.

Lifestyle and behavior

Eagle owls are solitary birds that lead a sedentary lifestyle in one territory. It flies to other places extremely reluctantly and only when it becomes impossible to feed itself in its familiar places. Northern species are migratory, flying south in winter in search of food. The pair builds a nest in the same place for many years, sometimes their entire lives. Birds jealously guard their territory, which can reach 80 km 2.

Their activity is extremely low during the day and increases with the onset of dusk and night. He can hunt until dawn with a short break. Eagle owls eat small prey immediately, but take larger prey to a secluded place, away from other predators.

This is interesting! The hunting methods of eagle owls are very interesting. Some species deliberately frighten sleeping daytime birds or small animals with their sounds, forcing them to rise or crawl out of cover. Eagle owls most often kill birds in flight.

With the onset of dawn, eagle owls tend to return to their secluded place to rest and digest the prey they have eaten. The habit of hiding from other birds is a kind of hatred on the part of other birds - when they see an eagle owl, they pounce on it, trying to cause as much harm as possible. They cannot cause much damage, but they often interfere with rest, which is the key to successful night hunting.

How long do eagle owls live?

Birds can be classified as long-livers. In the wild, their lifespan averages about 14-16 years, with a maximum of 25 years; in captivity, some individuals live up to 50 years. There are cases where tamed eagle owls lived for 70 years.

Types of eagle owls

Common eagle owl(Bubo bubo) is a typical representative of the genus Eagle Owls, the largest of the species. The color varies depending on the area from rusty and brown to cream. It feeds on rodents, frogs, and hunts partridges, woodpeckers, and tits. It is found in Northern Europe and Northern Asia throughout the entire Eurasian continent, as well as in North Africa.

Fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) - an endangered species found in the forests of Manchuria, Japan, Far East. The size is not inferior to the common eagle owl, and sometimes even exceeds them - the wingspan of a fish owl can reach two and a half meters. The color is brown, monochromatic. The toes and tarsus are not feathered. It is noteworthy that these birds make nests exclusively in large old trees. Hunts fish - salmon, gobies, rudd.

Nepalese eagle owl (Bubo nipalensis) is a rare bird, relatively small among eagle owls - their size rarely exceeds half a meter. It feeds on reptiles, pheasants, and less often fish. It is noteworthy that its voice resembles a human one, which is why there are many frightening legends about the bird in its habitats.

Great Eagle Owl (Bubo virginianus) is a non-migratory bird native to North America. A medium-sized representative of the genus, up to 63 cm long. The plumage varies from reddish-brown and terracotta to black or black and white. The Virginia eagle owl can hunt both large prey and scorpions, toads and salamanders. They live in pairs only for the period of nesting and hatching chicks.

Range, habitats

Eagle owls are one of the most common birds of prey - they can be found in most countries of Eurasia, Africa, and America. In Russia they live throughout the territory. The biotopes in which birds live are deserts, mountains, forests, lake and river banks.

They treat humans without much fear and can settle near agricultural lands, bringing benefits by exterminating rodent pests. The choice of habitat is guided solely by the availability of food supply. Northern birds easily tolerate low temperatures.

Diet of eagle owls

The main enemy of the bird can safely be called man.. Previously, it was believed that eagle owls cause damage to agriculture. economic activity, and the birds were subjected to almost total destruction. Nowadays, their habitats are being destroyed, and eagle owls can be seen less and less on a forest walk. Human activity also affects birds in the sense that after deratization, some poisoned rodents can fall into the clutches of predators, who are subsequently poisoned by the carcass and quickly die.

The nocturnal feathered host, the common eagle owl (Bubo bubo), feels at ease in the forests of the national park. This is one of the largest and most beautiful representatives of the order of owls of the owl family. In total, about 10 subspecies of this family live on the territory of our country.

Common eagle owl

The body of the feathered predator reaches a length of 50-70 centimeters with a weight of 1.5-3.0 kilograms and a wingspan of more than 1.5 meters. Like most birds of prey, female eagle owls appear larger. The bird has well-developed, strong paws with sharp and curved claws, with which it grabs prey and digs deep into it. Life expectancy is 15-25 years, and in captivity it can live up to 50.

The distribution area covers almost the entire territory of Russia:

• The northern border runs along the southern part of the Kola Peninsula, from Arkhangelsk along the basins of the Mezen and Pechora rivers to the lower reaches of the Ob; captures Western Siberia, crossing the Yenisei, Lena, Yana, and Kolyma rivers.
• From the east it is limited to the shores of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the Magadan region and to the south of it - to Sakhalin and the Southern Kuril Islands.
• The southern border coincides with state border our country.

To settle, the eagle owl uses hard-to-reach areas of all natural zones away from humans. Adapting well to both severe frosts and hot climates, the bird lives in taiga, forest-tundra, and mixed forests, steppe, desert areas, mountains and foothills.

The bird is sedentary and does not leave its habitat throughout its life. The exception is during periods when birds have to migrate due to lack of food (during particularly harsh winters or when there is a poor food harvest). Young individuals stay for a long time in areas where adult birds live.

The eagle owl makes its nesting sites in large tree hollows, ruins, abandoned buildings, on the ground, rocks, cliffs, and mountain slopes. Sometimes it can occupy empty nests of other birds.

The eagle owl mimics well, acquiring plumage color depending on the area where it lives. It is difficult to notice at any time of the day, since the silhouette of the bird merges with the trunks of surrounding trees or. Being predominantly nocturnal, the bird is able to see small animals running along the ground in the dark. Having rather massive wings, when hunting it flies smoothly and silently.

The eagle owl feeds on fish, amphibians, bats, birds (grouse grouse, hazel grouse, ducks, gulls, its relatives - owls), rodents (voles, gophers, ferrets), mammals (squirrels, hares, martens). There are known cases of predator attacks on larger animals - foxes, musk deer, roe deer.

The bird has no natural enemies and in nature dies most often by accident or as a result of human economic activity. Wolves and other predators prefer not to approach eagle owl nests, since parents bravely protect their offspring and fearlessly attack uninvited guests.

Feeding chicks:

In the middle of the last century, there was an opinion that eagle owls were harming the number of hunting resources, which is why their population began to be exterminated en masse by humans. On the other hand, these birds eat rodents in large numbers, which benefits agricultural lands. However, the number of eagle owls has declined to such an extent that government protection measures have been required.

The eagle owl is listed in the Red Book of Russia and is protected in a number of state reserves and reserves, including the Russian North National Park.

The species was assigned category 2, as having sharply reduced its numbers and in some places even disappeared in the predominant part of its habitat - in the center and Black Earth Region, the middle and lower parts of the Kama and Volga basins, the steppes of the Trans-Urals, in many areas of Siberia and the Far East.

Watch a video of an eagle owl sitting on a stone in the forest:

The expressive bird amazes with its grandeur and stern appearance. Many forest inhabitants are afraid of the eagle owl. Man also endowed the predator with superpowers - in legends they personify dark forces. The reason for the mystery lies in the fixed gaze of the night robber and the rare abilities of the feathered hunter.

Description and features

Eagle owl - bird, related to the owl family. Adults are 70-75 cm long, the weight of the predator is 3-4 kg. The wingspan is approximately 1.5-1.9 m. It has been noted that in the southern regions of its range the size of the eagle owl is noticeably smaller than that of birds living in the north.

The bird's body shape resembles a barrel, and the loose plumage gives it a characteristic volume. The tail is rounded at the end. The strong legs are often covered with feathers, but not all species of eagle owls are distinguished by this. The claws are very tenacious and are a formidable weapon of a predator.

The large head is decorated with unusual feathers. Characteristic “ears” distinguish all eagle owls, but are not auditory organs. The short beak is equipped with a hook. The special structure of the cervical vertebrae and blood vessels allows the bird to turn its head 200°. This amazing ability helps the predator keep an eye on everything around it.

You can distinguish an eagle owl from most owls by the presence of “ears” of feathers.

Huge eyes are always rich in color - orange, red. Unblinking, forward-looking, vigilant night and day. Birds see their surroundings in black and white. The pupil, very sensitive to the brightness of light, constantly changes in size as the eagle owl moves.

The predator sees perfectly at dusk. In the full night, the eagle owl navigates thanks to its acute hearing and picks up sounds and rustles that are important for the hunter.

The color of the predator is in brown-smoky tones, with a variegation of small spots, as if shedding loose plumage. There are black markings on the eagle owl's chest and its belly has horizontal ripples. The predator's outfit varies in different parts of its range. Owl adapts well to different biotopes, where it finds food supply and secluded corners for nesting. Sometimes the bird approaches residential areas.

Voice of an owl low, memorable. The characteristic hooting can be heard at a distance of 2-4 km. The performance of a varied repertoire during mating time can be heard in the wee hours. The sounds resemble whiny moans, humming, screaming, coughing. Anxiety is expressed by an energetic “laugh.” The voices of some eagle owls are similar to human ones.

In nature, proud birds have no enemies. Only chicks left unattended for a while are at risk. Foxes steal chicks from nests. Eagle owls die prematurely when their wings touch high-voltage power lines, and birds die from poisoning by rodents from poisoned fields. Birds become victims of poachers.

Kinds

Depending on the area and feeding characteristics, 19 species are distinguished, a separate genus of fish eagle owls, although ornithologists recommend recognizing the genus as a general one. Fish owls occupy a special place in the bird hierarchy. The difference between the genus lies in the food consisting of small organisms and river fish.

Large birds 70 cm long, weight 3-4 kg. The color is most often brown with black spots. Light markings are present on the throat and back of the head. The toes are bare, with spiked soles to hold the prey.

Predators hunt sitting on high banks and trees hanging over the water. They quickly rush after the prey they have spotted, piercing the body of the victim with their claws. They can wander in shallow water in search of crayfish, frogs, and small fish. Lives eagle owl in the northwest Manchuria, in China, Japan, in. Find out if the fishery is eagle owl in the Red Book or not, It’s not worth it - it’s a dying species.

Common eagle owl. A massive bird of red color, which varies depending on the location of its range. In Europe, Japan, China the plumage is dark to black, in Central Asia it is grayish with reddish tints. The fingers are tightly feathered. In bad weather, the eagle owl is especially successful in searching for prey.

Birds live in Europe, Asia, and the northern regions. The diet of eagle owls is unusually wide - there are about 300 species of birds alone. Rodents, lagomorphs, cats and dogs also fall into the claws of the mighty bird.

The eagle owl is a very large bird, capable of hunting hares and cats.

Bengal eagle owl. Medium sized bird. The weight of the predator is small, 1 kg, length approximately 55 cm. The yellowish-brown outfit is decorated with black drop-shaped spots. Orange-red eyes are very expressive. They live in the rocky landscapes of India, Pakistan, Burma - to the foothills of the Himalayas.

The appearance of eagle owls in residential areas and on the roofs of houses almost cost them their lives. They became heroes of superstitions and were actively exterminated by ill-wishers. Now Bengal eagle owls are protected by many environmental services.

African (spotted) eagle owl. A small representative of the family, the weight of an adult bird is 500-800 g, the body is approximately 45 cm long, the plumage of the eagle owl is red-brown in color with white speckles, which in some places merge into one whole. The eyes are yellow, sometimes with an orange tint. In African countries, the spotted eagle owl lives in savannas and semi-deserts. The predator is quite common and its numbers are not alarming.

Gray (Abyssinian) eagle owl. The bird is similar in size to its African relative. Distinctive feature predator - in the dark brown color of the eyes, which seem almost black. The plumage is smoky gray or light brown. The birds live in the southern regions of the Sahara Desert.

Nepalese eagle owl. The size of the bird is average. The color of the plumage on the back is dark brown, the belly and chest are light brown with black and white streaks. Local residents consider the birds to be devilish creatures for their unusual voice, reminiscent of human speaking.

The appetites of predators are such that they attack large animals - monitor lizards, jackals. Favorite habitats are the humid forests of Indochina and the Himalayas.

Great Eagle Owl. The name is named after the American state in which the predator was discovered. Large birds with a variety of colors - black, gray, brown with dark rusty spots. They adapt well to forests, steppes, deserts, and urban areas. Distributed throughout America, except for the northern regions, the population is quite large.

Coromandel eagle owl. It is distinguished by feather ears, very close set. The peculiarity of the predator is manifested in daytime hunting. The bird settles near water, in wetlands, and forest lowlands of Southeast Asia.

Lifestyle and habitat

The eagle owl's habitat is associated with a variety of landscapes from the northern taiga regions to the desert outskirts. The habitat of the predator must be provided with a food supply and secluded areas for nesting. Birds are often observed on mountain slopes overgrown with vegetation, in places with an abundance of ravines and hills.

The eagle owl adapts to moss swamps, forest dumps, burnt areas, and clearings. The bird avoids dense forests and settles in sparse areas, the outskirts of the thicket. The predator is attracted to treeless areas if the areas contain game, rodents, and other food items for the eagle owl.

Birds have no fear of humans; predators appear in park areas and farms. The population density is approximately 46 pairs of eagle owls per 100 sq. km. Eagle owl is a wintering bird leading a sedentary life. Selected species, living in the northern regions, leave their nesting sites in winter and fly south in search of food.

The eagle owl is nocturnal

The activity of eagle owls of most species increases at night. During the day, they go in search of prey mainly in cloudy weather, at twilight. The hunting methods of predators in different habitats are approximately the same, with the exception of polar owls and fish owls.

During the day, polar owls watch for prey from elevated places - sitting on branches, slopes, and stone ledges. At night, they often pursue prey in flight, hovering over the prey like.

When hunting, fish eagle owls stay on steep river banks or walk in shallow water. Unlike their relatives, they often move along the ground, leaving entire trails of traces from their clawed feet. They dive after the fish, snatch them out of the water, and only partially submerge themselves into the reservoir.

Different species of eagle owls flutter in search of prey, looking out for an object to chase. With a swift throw, the bird grabs the victim, sinks its claws, leaving no chance of release. Predators swallow small prey whole, while large ones are torn into pieces with their beaks and swallowed with the skin.

Nutrition

Eagle owl - bird of prey, whose diet includes small mammals and birds of mass distribution. This factor allows adaptation to biotopes, reduces the predator’s dependence on types of food, and does not affect the number of rare animals. An adult eagle owl requires 200-400 g of meat per day. In winter, the amount of food increases, in summer it decreases. The diet contains a wide variety of prey from

• rodents: hamsters, mice, jerboas, gophers, squirrels;
• mammals: martens, badgers, roe deer, hedgehogs, goats;
• birds: woodpeckers, ducks, crows, herons, partridges;
• reptiles: lizards, turtles;
• insects: locusts, ground beetles, spiders;
• fish, crustaceans.

Eagle owls are not squeamish about other people's prey; they steal bait from traps. They prefer easy prey. The West African eagle owl feeds on beetles and cockroaches due to its weak claws.

Reproduction and lifespan

Eagle owls maintain monogamous relationships in pairs. Strong unions do not break up even after the end of the mating season. The ritual of attracting a partner is carried out annually as if for the first time. First, an inviting hoot, luring a couple, then ceremonial bows, feeding, kissing with beaks.

Birds make nests in old hollows, take over strangers, and sometimes make do with a small hole on the ground in a secluded place. Eggs are laid at intervals of 2-4 days. Number of eggs different types varies: the Malayan eagle owl has only one egg, the polar owl has up to 15 eggs. Incubation lasts 32-35 days, only the female incubates. The male eagle owl takes care of food for his mate.

Owls hatch sequentially as eggs are laid. Chicks gather in the nest of different ages and size. Babies are born blind, weighing 60 g, their bodies are covered with light down. The chicks mature on the 4th day, and after 20 days they are covered with delicate feathers.

Eagle owls make nests in hollows and crevices of trees.

At first, the female stays with the offspring inseparably, then leaves the nest to search for food for the insatiable young. A feature of the development of offspring is the manifestation of kainism, i.e. killing of the weak by the strong chicks. Natural selection preserves strong birds, ready for reproduction at 2-3 years.

Exploration of the area outside the nest begins at approximately one month of age. The first flutters are replaced by short flights, and then the birds gain strength and begin an independent life of about 20 years in nature, twice as long in captivity.

Eagle owl in the photo surprises people with its expressive appearance and the confident gaze of a predator. A meeting with a bird awakens even greater interest in the ancient inhabitant of our planet.

The eagle owl is a nocturnal or crepuscular bird of prey that belongs to the phylum Chordata, class of birds, subclass Novopalatines, order Owls, family Owls, subfamily true owls, genus Bubo and genus Ketupa.

The diet of other eagle owls is more varied and includes a great variety of different animals:

• rodents: gray and black rats, red-gray, snow, water and common voles, as well as mice, hamsters, dormouse, different kinds hares, ground squirrels, jerboas, nutria, muskrats, squirrels and marmots;
• other mammals: goats, roe deer, wild boars, deer, mountain goats, hedgehogs, shrews, bats, martens, otters, badgers, mongooses, Himalayan civets, small domestic animals and young ungulates;
• birds: pheasant, partridge, woodpecker, swift, gull, mallard, duck, goose, crow, magpie, pigeon, heron, hazel grouse;
• reptiles: snakes, lizards, turtles;
• spiders and large insects (locusts, ground beetles, various beetles);
• fish, crustaceans, amphibians (frogs and toads).

Eagle owls do not disdain the remains of other people's prey, they carry bait from traps, and in the absence of main food they easily switch to another diet. When there is an abundance of food, eagle owls spend their entire lives within their individual territory.

Classification of eagle owls

The owl family includes 2 genera of eagle owls:

1. genus eagle owls(Bubo), which includes 19 species of birds:
   • Bubo africanus(Temminck, 1821) – African eagle owl, or Spotted eagle owl
   • Bubo ascalaphus(Savigny, 1809) – Desert eagle owl, or Pharaonic eagle owl
   • Bubo bengalensis(Franklin, 1831) – Bengal eagle owl
   • Bubo blakistoni(Seebohm, 1884) – Fish owl
   • Bubo bubo(Linnaeus, 1758) – Common eagle owl, Eurasian eagle owl or Northern eagle owl
   • Bubo capensis(A. Smith, 1834) – Cape eagle owl
   • Bubo cinerascens(Guerin-Meneville, 1843) – Gray eagle owl or Abyssinian eagle owl
   • Bubo coromandus(Latham, 1790) – Coromandel eagle owl, or Dark eagle owl
   • Bubo lacteus(Temminck, 1820) – Pallid eagle owl
   • Bubo leucostictus Hartlaub, 1855 – West African eagle owl
   • Bubo magellanicus(Lesson, 1828) – Magellanic eagle owl
   • Bubo nipalensis(Hodgson, 1836) – Nepalese eagle owl
   • Bubo philippensis(Kaup, 1851) – Philippine eagle owl
   • Bubo poensis(Fraser, 1854) – Guinea eagle owl
   • Bubo scandiacus(Linnaeus, 1758) – White Owl, polar owl
   • Bubo shelleyi(Sharpe & Ussher, 1872) – Barred Eagle Owl
   • Bubo sumatranus(Raffles, 1822) – Malayan eagle owl
   • Bubo virginianus(Gmelin, 1788) – Great Eagle Owl
   • Bubo vosseleri(Reichenow, 1908) – Uzambara eagle owl
2. genus fish owls(Ketupa), which includes 3 types:
   • Ketupa flavipes(Hodgson, 1836) – Himalayan fish owl
   • Ketupa ketupu(Horsfield, 1821) – Malayan fish owl
   • Ketupa zeylonensis(Gmelin, 1788) – Brown fish owl

Fish owl ( Bubo blakistoni), despite its name, is considered in the classification as a species of the genus Eagle Owl.

Currently, a number of researchers who have analyzed the DNA of birds recommend combining all species of eagle owls into the common genus Bubo, because the only significant difference between fish eagle owls is their special diet, consisting mainly of fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Enemies of eagle owls in nature

Eagle owls are quite lucky, because adult individuals have practically no enemies in their natural habitat. The only danger to the eagle owl comes from humans: in some countries, this feathered predator is hunted by poachers, shooting birds in order to obtain its claws, feathers and internal organs for the production of alternative medicine. Quite a lot of eagle owls die from eating rodents that feed on crops in fields treated with chemicals. There are frequent cases of eagle owl deaths when, in flight, these large birds with a large wingspan accidentally touch high-voltage power line wires. However, eagle owl chicks in a nest without parental supervision can become prey to sneaky martens, foxes, wolves and badgers.

Types of eagle owls, photos and names

Below is a description of several varieties of eagle owls.

• White owl (snowy owl)(Bubo scandiacus, Nyctea scandiaca)

Initially, these birds were classified as an independent genus Nyctea, but now ornithologists classify the polar owl as a member of the genus of eagle owls. The polar owl is the largest of the representatives of the order inhabiting the tundra: females grow up to 70 cm in length and weigh about 3 kg, the body length of males is about 55-65 cm, and their weight reaches 1.3-2.5 kg. Due to their impressive size, the wingspan of these birds can reach 150-160 cm. Snowy owl chicks wear brown plumage, and adult birds are distinguished by their protective white color with brown transverse streaks, which makes them invisible against the background of the winter landscape. Moreover, females and young owls are more colorful than adult males. The white polar owl has a sharp black beak, covered almost to the very tip with bristle feathers, and the bird's legs are covered with coarse plumage, reminiscent of shaggy wool.

Polar owls are most active in the late evening and early morning, making regular hunting flights. The majority of the snowy owl's diet consists of small rodents, mainly lemmings. The reproduction of birds depends on them: if the number of lemmings is not enough to feed the chicks, polar owls stop laying eggs. In the absence of basic food, snowy owls hunt larger animals: hares, pikas, stoats, and also attack birds - geese, ducks and ptarmigan, and do not disdain carrion and fish.

Polar owls are a common, non-threatening species, whose representatives inhabit the entire tundra zone. They are partly sedentary, but predominantly migratory birds. In winter, in search of food, they often fly to the steppes and forest-tundra, preferring open areas and trying to avoid forests. From October to April they spend the winter in a new place where there is enough food, and by the end of spring they return to their usual habitat. The range of the snowy owl runs circumpolarly across Eurasia (they also live in Russia), North America; the bird lives in Greenland and is found on individual islands of the Arctic Ocean, including Wrangel Island.

• Fish owl, aka Far Eastern fish owl(Bubo blakistoni , syn. - Ketupa blakistoni)

One of the largest representatives of the order and the largest species of its genus. Adult females grow up to 70 cm in length, their weight is about 4 kg, and their wingspan reaches 180-190 cm. The fish owl has wide feathered ears, long wings and a rounded tail. The color of the plumage is predominantly brown, monochromatic, with dark spots scattered throughout the body. There is always a white spot on the throat; some individuals may have white spots on the top and back of the head. The soles of the fingers are covered with small spines designed to hold prey, and the fingers themselves are bare.

Fish eagle owls are active during the day and evening, but in summer they hunt only at night, and their main source of food is fish, which is how the birds got their name. Hunting takes place from steep river banks, trees or large boulders hanging over the water, from where predators look out for their prey. Having spotted a fish in the water, the eagle owl dives sharply and grabs the prey with tenacious claws, but never completely plunges into the water. Sometimes birds wander waist-deep in water, scrabble their feet along the bottom and catch crayfish, frogs and slow-swimming fish. The most successful hunting usually occurs in places where salmon species pass to spawn. In winter, the fish owl switches to a different diet and is content with other birds, rodents, picks up carrion and deftly steals bait from traps. The nests of these birds are located in the hollows of old deciduous trees growing near water.

The fish eagle owl leads a sedentary lifestyle, and leaves its homes only when forced to go in search of food. The eagle owl lives in the forests of Manchuria in northeast China, as well as in Russia in the Amur region and Primorsky Krai. These birds are extremely rare, and therefore the fish eagle owl is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

• , aka Eurasian eagle owl, northern eagle owl or scarecrow(Bubo bubo)

This large predator, slightly inferior in size to the golden eagle, is distinguished by a massive, barrel-shaped body, very soft and loose plumage of a reddish-ocher color and long tufts of feathers growing above bright orange eyes. The body length of the eagle owl is about 60-75 cm. Males weigh from 2.1 to 2.7 kg, and the weight of females reaches 3-3.2 kg. The wingspan of an eagle owl ranges from 150 to 180-190 cm. Some ornithologists consider the common eagle owl to be the largest representative of the order, but this statement is partly true, because the fish owl has a shorter body length, but is more massive, and the great gray owl has a more elongated body, but has an elegant structure. If you look at the birds from a close distance, you can see that male eagle owls have feathered ears that are “set” more straight than those of females.

The general red-ocher color of birds can vary depending on the habitat: the plumage of representatives of the populations of Europe and China is mainly rusty and brown-black, the inhabitants of Central Asia and Siberia are more cream or gray-ocher. Unlike the fish owl, the scarecrow's toes are well feathered. The common eagle owl is a typical nocturnal predator, although in winter and in cloudy weather the birds can hunt during the day. The predator's diet is rich and varied, although preference is given to birds and small mammals. According to scientists, the eagle owl feeds on about 300 species of birds, among which there are very large ones, for example, heron, wood grouse or black grouse. The eagle owl's food also includes numerous representatives of the corvid family (rook, magpie, jay, hooded and black crow, chough, jackdaw), small species of passerines and at least 17 species of galliformes. Among mammals, the eagle owl's diet is dominated by rodents (about 130 species), such as gray rats, voles, steppe pieds, jerboas, squirrels and marmots. The common eagle owl also hunts lagomorphs (hare, hare, stomp, Daurian pika), moles, martens, hedgehogs, badgers, mongooses and raccoon dogs. On occasion, predators attack domestic dogs and cats, as well as young ungulates - goats, roe deer, wild boars and deer. A small part of the diet consists of reptiles, amphibians and fish.

The bird's biotopes are also diverse: common eagle owls live from taiga forests to deserts, in swamps, woodlands, on forested rocky slopes, avoiding only dense forests. The eagle owl's habitat extends across most of Europe and Asia, from the western outskirts to Sakhalin Island, the southern Kuril Islands and the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Birds can also be found in North Africa, south to the 15th parallel.

• Bengal eagle owl(Bubo bengalensis)

It's a bird average size, which grows in length up to 50-56 cm. At the same time, the weight of the eagle owl is about 1.1 kg. The Bengal eagle owl is distinguished by its light yellowish-brown plumage with black spots. The bird's chest is decorated with many dark vertical stripes. The Bengal eagle owl is a nocturnal hunter, feeding on birds and small mammals, sometimes reptiles, insects and crustaceans. These birds have large orange-red eyes, and their habit of perching on home roofs has given rise to many superstitions, as a result of which many Bengal eagle owls have been exterminated.

Today, the predators are protected by the Indian authorities, and their population is not in danger. The species' range covers India, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma and extends to the western foothills of the Himalayas. The Bengal eagle owl prefers desert and rocky landscapes, avoids wet forests and arid areas, and is often found in mango plantations.

• Great Eagle Owl(Bubo virginianus )

This feathered predator was first discovered in the US state of Virginia, which is why it got its name. In size, the great eagle owl is second only to the common eagle owl, therefore it is considered the second largest eagle owl in the world, as well as the largest of the representatives of the family living in the New World. Adult females grow in length up to 46-63.5 cm, and the eagle owl weighs from 0.9 to 1.8 kg. At the same time, the wingspan of birds reaches 91-152 cm. The color of the plumage of this type of eagle owl is very diverse. It can be rusty brown, black, white or gray, and the lower surface of the feathers is lighter colored and covered with dark streaks lined with a white stripe. Eagle owls feed mainly on rodents, although, according to scientists, their diet includes about 253 species of birds and animals.

The great eagle owl is a nocturnal predator and leads a sedentary lifestyle; only populations from the northern regions migrate south for the winter. These birds easily adapt to any biotopes, so they are found in forests, deserts, steppes, agricultural lands and city parks. The species' range extends throughout North America, except for the Far North, and in South America, eagle owls live in the foothills of the Andes. These birds are not found outside of America, but are quite numerous and their population status is of least concern.

• African eagle owl, aka spotted eagle owl(Bubo africanus)

This is a fairly small representative of the family, which grows up to 45 cm in length and weighs no more than 480-850 g. However, the wingspan of the eagle owl is about 1 m. The plumage of the bird is gray or red-brown in color with white spots randomly scattered throughout the body spots, some sometimes merge on the chest into one large spot. Most birds have yellow eyes, but in particularly arid areas of the range, dark-colored individuals of chestnut-brown tones with orange eyes are found. The African eagle owl is a typical nocturnal predator and prefers to hunt until dawn. Its prey includes large insects, small mammals, various species of birds, amphibians and reptiles, and, on occasion, carrion.

Birds' nests are located directly on the ground, in rock crevices and under rocky cliffs. The spotted eagle owl is considered the most common African eagle owl species. It usually lives in light forests, savannas and semi-deserts south of the Sahara and in certain areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The conservation status of this species is considered to be of least concern.

• Gray owl, aka abyssinian eagle owl(Bubo cinerascens)

Initially, these predators were considered a subspecies of the African eagle owl, but were eventually identified as an independent species. The gray eagle owl grows up to 43 cm in length and weighs about 0.5 kg. These birds have light brown or smoky gray plumage with thin cross-bar stripes and dark spots on the chest that look like ripples. Interesting feature This species of eagle owl has an uncharacteristic, dark brown, almost black eye color. These predators are active at night, and their diet is the same as that of the African eagle owl.

The gray eagle owl lives in open desert landscapes, savannas and woodlands. The species' range is located in the arid regions of Africa south of the Sahara Desert: the western border passes through Guinea and Senegal, the eastern part of the range is limited to Sudan and Somalia.

• Nepalese eagle owl(Bubo nipalensis)

This is a medium-sized predator with a body length of about 51-61 cm. The weight of the eagle owl is from 1.3 to 1.5 kg. The color of the plumage is predominantly grayish-brown, and the back and upper surface of the wings are usually darker. The chest and belly are light brownish in color with black and white streaks. Representatives of the Sri Lankan population are distinguished by honey-brown plumage on the chest. Juveniles are much lighter in color than adults. An interesting feature of the Nepalese eagle owl is its unusual voice, which is very reminiscent of human speech, due to which the local population nicknamed this eagle owl “ulama”, which means “devil bird”.

Nepalese eagle owls are active at night, but in areas free from active human activity they can hunt during the day. Eagle owls eat small rodents and birds, but bold predators can also attack strong mammals, for example, jackals, monitor lizards and large galliformes. Nepalese eagle owls live in humid, wooded areas in the Himalayas, Indochina and Malaysia. According to the IUCN, this species is not currently threatened.

• Coromandel eagle owl, aka dark eagle owl(Bubo coromandus)

This is a medium-sized predator that grows up to 48-53 cm in length. Among other members of the family, these birds are distinguished by their large, closely set feathered ears. The plumage color of adults is light brown or gray, and the iris of the eyes is orange. The dark eagle owl hunts more than others during daylight hours, especially in inclement weather. The feathered predator feeds on small mammals, large insects, birds and reptiles, especially members of the corvid family.

The bird likes to settle near water, in dense low-lying forests and swampy wooded areas. The species' range extends across the territory of South and Southeast Asia and, depending on the specific habitat, 2 subspecies of the Coromandel eagle owl are distinguished:

• • Bubo coromandus coromandus , which is distributed in Pakistan, India, Assam, southern Nepal and the People's Republic of Bangladesh;
  • Bubo coromandus klossi, which is found in southern China, Burma and the western regions of Thailand.

In accordance with the protective status, this type eagle owls are of least concern.

Reproduction of eagle owls

Sexual maturity in these birds occurs at the age of 2-3 years, and most eagle owls create strong monogamous pairs; some, after the mating season, continue to live and hunt together. Other couples break up and are reunited for the next season. The breeding season of eagle owls depends on their habitat.

From year to year, the couple repeats the same complex mating ritual, which consists of searching for a partner, although the female usually stays nearby and lures a partner from the treetops with an inviting hoot. Then the couple ritually bows, the traditional ceremonial feeding takes place and kissing each other with their beaks.

Some species of eagle owls make nests in hollow trees, occupy the nests of other birds, or do without a nest at all, and the female lays eggs in small holes on the ground among stones, under spruce paws, in rock crevices, caves and other secluded places. The female eagle owl lays eggs at intervals of 2-4 days, and a full clutch usually contains no more than 4-5 eggs. Only the polar owl has from 11 to 16 eggs in feeding years, and the female Malayan eagle owl lays only 1 egg.

Eagle owl eggs are round and covered with a light, rough shell. The egg size in large species reaches 66 x 54 mm.

The incubation period lasts from 32 to 35 days, and only the female does the incubation, and the male eagle owl gets food for both of them.

Owls are born in the order in which the eggs were laid, so the nest often contains chicks of varying sizes and degrees of development.

The weight of newborn eagle owls is about 60 g, and their bodies are covered with thick whitish-ocher down. On the fourth day, the chicks begin to see clearly, and after 3 weeks their downy outfit is replaced by small feathers. For the first three weeks, the female remains inseparably in the nest, cuts the food brought by the male into small pieces, feeds and protects her brood, and then gets involved in collecting food for the insatiable chicks.

One of the characteristic features of eagle owls is cainism, which is not inherent in other owls, when stronger chicks kill the weaker ones, as well as cannibalism, as a result of which only one, but the strongest chick, often remains in the nest.

If the eagle owl's nest is located on the ground, the chicks begin exploring the surrounding area on foot at the age of 22-25 days. On rocky hills, the brood remains in the nest for up to 5-7 weeks. At this age, young eagle owls are already capable of short flitting, at 8 weeks they begin to fly short distances (up to 100 m), and after another month they are completely ready for independent life. For some time, the eagle owl chicks continue to beg for food from their parents, but gradually leave the boundaries of their native area.

Small eagle owls are often kept as pets, but keeping an eagle owl at home poses serious difficulties. Firstly, it is quite difficult to find and buy a ringed eagle owl in a nursery, and purchasing a bird on the market means breaking the law prohibiting the keeping of wild animals in captivity.

Keeping in mind the wingspan of an adult eagle owl, it is strictly not recommended to keep this bird in a cage: it needs space and, at a minimum, a specially equipped room with “perches” mounted on the wall, a bathing area and a complete absence of any household items that the bird could damage or touch. she might get hurt.

What to feed an eagle owl at home?

It is better to feed your domestic eagle owl with live food - frozen foods lack the necessary nutrients. Therefore, you should make sure that your pet’s diet always includes live mice, day-old chicks and small birds, such as quail. After each feeding, the eagle owl will shed debris in the form of undigested bones, wool and feathers, and the bird's main stool must be carefully examined. A light puddle with particles of dark droppings means that the pet is healthy. Bloody spots or a complete absence of stool indicate indigestion. There can be a lot of problems and difficulties in caring for an eagle owl, for example the fact that birds like to vocalize loudly at night. Therefore, the decision to have an eagle owl at home needs to be weighed and carefully considered.

• Eagle owls are very smart birds: if the nest is in danger, predators open their wings to appear larger and circle over a potential enemy (animal or human), clicking their beaks intimidatingly. If this does not help, the eagle owl often feigns a wing injury, diverting attention to itself.
• The huge orange-red eyes, protruding feathered ears and loud, strange voice of the eagle owl have always been the cause of superstitions surrounding these birds. It was believed that an eagle owl sitting on the roof foreshadows the imminent death of one of the inhabitants of the house, so unfortunate birds were often used in ritual magic rites. The skull of the Himalayan fish owl is of great value, and the meal made from the ground bones of the bird was used in folk medicine to treat smallpox.
• Large feathered predators, like golden eagles and white-tailed eagles, are the main natural enemies of all owls, so eagle owls are often used as bait for hunting various hawks.
• Due to its highly erect feathered ears, the Great Eagle Owl is often called the Great Horned Owl.
• During the mating season, the hooting of eagle owls merges into one continuous hum, and according to scientists, an eagle owl can hoot more than a thousand times during the night.

An owl is a bird of prey, belongs to the order of owls (Strigiformes or Striges), in which there are 2 families:

• owls or true owls (these include tawny owls, eagle owls, long-eared owls and scops owls)
• barn owls (these include the barn owl genus and the masked barn owl genus)

The owl's feet are very strong and grippy, and in many species they are feathered. Owl claws sharp and curved, they help her quickly grab the victim and hold it. The flight of an owl is almost silent, this is due to the special structure of its feathers. The first outer feathers are saw-toothed and fringed. The third and fourth feathers of the owl are longer than the others. The tail is rounded and trimmed, and the tail feathers are curled. The wingspan of an owl is about 142-200 centimeters. These birds fly very fast: the speed of an owl in flight reaches 80 km/h.

The bird makes a characteristic clicking sound when it is irritated or excited. It turns out she does this thanks to her beak. The owl's beak is curved from the beginning to the very base, ends with a hook, the edges are smooth and without cutouts.

Owls can turn their heads 180 and even 270 degrees without causing discomfort or harm. The owl bird is a predator, and it needs to track down prey, so its eyes are located not on the sides, but in front.

The owl's eyes are motionless and look only straight ahead. To change the direction of gaze, the bird needs to turn its head. Moreover, the owl’s visual angle is 160 degrees, and its vision is binocular, unlike other birds. Owls see the world in black and white. The lens of owls is not in the eyeball, but in the horn tube, so birds see perfectly at night.

An owl's hearing is 4 times better than a cat's. As soon as the prey reveals itself with a rustle or sound, the bird rushes at it with lightning speed.

Types of owls, names and photographs

In the owl family, there are 3 subfamilies, 30 genera and 214 species, the most common of which are:

• Long eared owl ( Asio otus)

The bird has a length of 31-36 centimeters. The wingspan reaches 86-98 cm. The color of this species of owl is predominantly gray-brown with variegated spots, the chest is white. There are dark spots on the upper side of the body, and transverse stripes on the underside. On the head of the long-eared owl there are large ear tufts, which consist of six feathers.

It lives in coniferous forests, prefers European countries or northern Asia as nesting sites, and flies to northern Africa for the winter. The long-eared owl feeds on rodents, mice, voles, insects and birds.

• Gray owl ( Strix nebulosa)

A large bird with a length of 80 cm and a wingspan of 1.5 meters. The large-headed bird has a smoky gray color. There are dark stripes around the owl's yellow eyes.

The tawny owl feeds on rodents and squirrels. For nesting, it chooses the nests of hawks and buzzards; it does not build nests itself. The black spot under the bird's beak looks like a beard, hence the name of the bird. The bird has no feathered ears; there is a white collar on its neck. The underside of the wings hides dark stripes.

The great gray owl lives in the taiga and mountain forests in the Baltic countries, in the European part of Russia, in Siberia, Sakhalin, and Mongolia.

• Eagle owl ( Bubo bubo)

It has a length of 60-75 cm, a wingspan of 160-190 cm. The weight of a male eagle owl reaches 2.1-2.7 kg, the weight of females is 3-3.2 kg. The eagle owl is the largest bird from the order Owls. The plumage of the predator is dominated by reddish and ocher colors; the eagle owl's eyes are bright orange, with tufts of elongated feathers located above the eyes.

Eagle owls live in the forests and steppes of Eurasia, hunting rodents, mice, crows, hedgehogs, hares, birds and other vertebrates.

• Great Sparrow Owl ( Glaucidium passerinum)

The body length of the owl is 15-19 cm, the wingspan reaches 35-40 cm. The weight reaches 55-80 g. Moreover, males are smaller than females. The color of the owl is gray-brown or dark brown; white speckles are clearly visible on the feathers, larger ones on the back and smaller ones on the head. The underparts of the bird are white with longitudinal stripes of a brown tint. The tail is gray-brown, with 5 narrow stripes. The head is small and has a round and slightly flattened shape; the owl has no ears. The pygmy owl has white and brown rings around its eyes. The bird's eyes are yellow and there are white eyebrows above the eyes. The claws of the pygmy owl are black or yellow. The paws are fully feathered, down to the claws.

• Little Owl ( Athene noctua)

A small bird with a length of 25 cm and a weight of about 150-170 g. The color of the plumage of females and males is the same. The back of the bird is light brown or sandy in color. Brown longitudinal motley spots stand out on the white belly of the owl. Round white spots are located on the shoulder feathers.

The little owl lives in southern and central Europe, northern Africa and southern Asian countries. In Russia, the owl is found mainly in the center and south of the European part, in Southern Altai and Transbaikalia. Birds live in steppe and desert areas, building nests in stones and burrows. The little owl feeds on insects, lizards, rodents, and sometimes birds.

• Barn owl ( Tyto alba)

Differs from other owl species in its heart-shaped facial disc. The length of the barn owl reaches 34-39 centimeters with a wingspan of 80-95 cm. The weight of the bird of prey is 190-700 grams. The color of the barn owl is red with numerous transverse streaks, stripes and specks. In this case, the color depends on the habitat of the bird. The bird's tail is short. The barn owl's ears have an unusual asymmetrical arrangement: if the left one is at the level of the forehead, then the right one is closer to the nostril area. Thanks to this feature, the bird hears very well.

The barn owl lives on all continents except cold Antarctica. In Russia he lives only in the Kaliningrad region.

• White owl (snowy owl) ( Bubo scandiacus, Nyctea scandiaca)

It has a body length of 55 to 70 cm, the bird’s weight is 2-3 kg. The wingspan reaches 143-166 cm. The color of the bird living in the tundra zone serves as its camouflage, so it is dominated by white colors with dark spots. The polar owl's beak is black and its eyes are bright yellow. The predator's paws are completely pubescent.

The polar owl lives in Eurasia, North America, Greenland, and the islands of the Arctic Ocean. The snowy owl feeds on rodents, lemmings, hares, stoats, ptarmigan, geese, ducks, and fish. White owls are listed in the Red Book.

• Hawk Owl ( Surnia ulula)

It lives in forested regions in Europe, North America and Asia. In Russia it is found in Kamchatka, the Magadan region, Chukotka, and on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It feeds on rodents (mice, lemmings, voles), and sometimes hunts squirrels, hazel grouse, black grouse, partridges and other birds.

The bird's length reaches 45 cm. The bird's tail is long, the color is brownish-brown with white spots, and there are thin stripes at the bottom of the body. The hawk owl's eyes and beak are yellow.

Where do owls live?

Owls live all over the world; they are not found only in Antarctica. There are 17 species of owls living in Russia. A large number of these birds can be found in forests, and only a few of them live in open areas.

Basically, the owl lives in hollows and nests. The eagle owl finds a home almost everywhere: in forests, mountains, steppes and deserts. The long-eared owl lives in all kinds of fields, as it hunts in open areas, but creates its nests only in the forest. The snowy owl lives in the tundra, in winter it flies far to the south, and does not like wooded areas. The great gray owl lives only in taiga dense forests. Species of owls such as the barn owl and the little owl find homes under roofs and in attics.

What does an owl eat?

The question of what the owl bird eats in nature interests many people. This bird, both in its natural habitat and in captivity, eats rodents, small birds, insects, and animals. The diet depends on the owl's habitat. Owls of medium and large sizes feed on rats, mice, lemmings, hedgehogs, lizards, shrews, hares, frogs, toads, bats, moles, snakes, chickens. Little owls eat mainly insects (beetles, grasshoppers), and birds living in coastal areas eat fish, crabs and mussels. Owls that live in tropical countries eat fruits, plants and berries. The owl bird can live for several months without water, quenching its thirst with the blood of its victims.

Breeding owls

Owls form monogamous pairs. A pair of owls does not build their own nest; they occupy crevices, hollows, or nests abandoned by other birds. Short-eared owls build nests on the ground in dense vegetation. Owls can breed once or several times a year, it all depends on the amount of food in the habitat. A clutch can contain from 3 to 10 eggs. Owl eggs are white, spherical and relatively small. The eggs are incubated by the female owl. The male owl takes part in feeding the offspring. Very often, chicks of different ages live in the nest. Parents feed all the offspring, but give most of it to the older owlets. Older owl chicks, when there is a lack of food, can even eat their younger brothers.

There are also some difficulties with the owl's diet; the digestive system of this bird is designed in such a way that it needs to eat the whole carcass of a mouse or bird. It is logical that feeding meat is no longer necessary; get ready to purchase mice.

Also pay special attention to the choice of the type of owl; a long-eared or short-eared owl is suitable for a standard city apartment. There will be little space for tawny owls and eagle owls, even if you have a wide apartment or house.

What is the difference between an owl and an eagle owl?

The eagle owl is a bird of prey from the order of owls, the owl family. Belongs to the genus Eagle Owl. This bird differs from other species of owls in its appearance. Firstly, the eagle owl is the largest in size compared to other owls. The eagle owl's head is quite large and has characteristic features: in the area of ​​the auditory openings there are short, hard feathers resembling auricles. The eagle owl has a characteristic feather color, reddish-fawn. There are clear dark stripes on the head and back.

Secondly, unlike many species of owls that hunt only at night, the eagle owl is a diurnal bird and sees well during the day.

The prey of owls are mainly small rodents and insects, while the eagle owl hunts pheasants, hares and young roe deer. This type of prey lives mainly in the steppe zone. In such places it is convenient for the eagle owl to go hunting due to its large wingspan.

• The cry of an owl serves the bird for different purposes. There is a call similar to a dialogue taking place between two males. There is a calling call during the mating season. Small owls make sounds to indicate their location.
• In ancient times, they were afraid of owls, they were considered a bad sign, associated with mystical events, so these birds were persecuted.
• In Egypt, owls were treated with care, respect and were even mummified.
• A Babylonian bas-relief was found depicting owls: they are on the sides, and in the center there is a woman with owl wings and paws. It is believed that this is one of the goddesses, and owls are her guards or companions. In addition to being a dark and mystical symbol, the owl was a symbol of intelligence and wisdom.
• In Christianity, the cry of an owl was considered the song of death. It symbolized desolation, loneliness, sorrow and solitude. For the Slavs, the owl bird was the keeper of underground treasures, a sign of a widow and foreshadowed a fire or death; the owl was considered one of the demonic and unclean forces.

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