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World Owl Trust

Friday July 4th, 2008


Indian Eagle Owl
Bubo bengalensis
Click on small image to view larger one   Bubo bengalensis
As of February 2005.
Description Large, eared owl with orange eyes. Tawny-buff colouration mottled with black, paler below with black steaks. Dark and light morphs have been described.
Size 50-56cm, 1100-2000g
Range Indian sub-continent to Himalayas, also W Myanmar.
Habitat Rocky hills, wooded scrub, ravines, rocky semi-desert old mango orchards.
Food Mainly rodents but also birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs and large invertebrates.
Breeding From October to May, but mainly February to April. Nest is a scrape on a rock ledge, cliff or on the ground. 2-5 eggs are incubated for about 35 days.
Call Deep, resonant, single pitched “double noted hoot”.
Status Not globally threatened, although not common anywhere in its range.
Comments Also known as the Bengal and Indian Eagle Owl.
Races Monotypic. Was until recently considered a race of B.bubo, but vocalisations and DNA are distinct. Lives sympathetically with B.b.nikolskii in parts of Kashmir.
No additional races

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