Rock Eagle Owl

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Friday July 4th, 2008

Rock Eagle Owl
Bubo bengalensis

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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 sympatrically with B.b.nikolskii in parts of Kashmir.

Registered Charity Number: 1055489
Limited Company Number: 5296745

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