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Eurasian Eagle Owl
(Bubo bubo)
: "European Eagle Owl", "Eagle Owl"
 German name(s): "Uhu"
Size: 56-75 cm; wing span 1.3-1.9 m
Weight: 1.2-2.2 kg (male); 1.75-4.6 (female)
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Eurasian Eagle Owls are amongst the largest and most massive
existing owls.
Their plumage is
highly cryptic.
In the field the two sexes are indistinguishable except when
seen together, the female being much larger than the male.
Their most prominent feature is a pair of long ear tufts that
are rufous on the outside and dark-grey inside and can be
erected vertically.
The front is rufous-brown with bold black streaking. The
streaking is heaviest around the neck and the chest, while
the chin has an off-white patch. On the belly and undertail
coverts the streaking is much more subtle and the rufous-brown
feathers show very faint darker barring.
The facial mask is mostly rufous-grey, without an outer border.
The upperparts are scalloped dark-grey and dark-brown, with
some lighter rufous edges and a few grey patches. The
uppertail is barred rufous and dark-grey.
In flight the feet can often be seen dangling, with the toes
curled up in a "boxing glove" position.
The striking eyes have orange irises; the small, down-curved
bill is dark-grey. The legs and feet are feathered rufous.
Fledglings
are light-grey with faint rufous barring and a rufous wash on
the wing coverts.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Eurasian
Eagle Owl at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Eurasian Eagle Owl is available
HERE
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There are in total 14 extant races of the Eurasian Eagle Owl,
which are sedentary throughout their range.
Their overall range extends from Iberia in the West to Sakhalin
in eastern Siberia in the East. In the North-South direction
their distribution ranges from about 23 degrees latitude to
67 degrees.
They are present in large parts of Europe, small parts of Asia
Minor, in an area from the Mediterranean East coast to the
Euphrates/Tigris river system and eastward from there, all
through mid-latitude Asia, except Japan.
In Europe there are several races of Eurasian Eagle Owl.
Nominate race "bubo" populates large parts of central
Europe (except most of France, the British Isles and
most of northern Germany and Denmark), Scandinavia
(except the highest mountainous areas and the far North)
and eastern and south-eastern Europe.
In eastern Europe they intergrade with race "ruthenus"
(northern Russia) and "interpositus" (Ukraine).
Race "hispanus" is found
in all of Iberia.
Eurasian Eagle Owls have a preference for rocky hill or mountain
slopes or inaccessible cliffs or escarpments with scattered
vegetation, often conifers.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "hispanus"
J. Pires reports spotting
Eurasian Eagle Owls, race
"hispanus",
near Mora, Evora, Portugal, in April and June 2016.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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Race "hispanus"
This race is also called "Spanish Eagle Owl" or "Iberian Eagle Owl".
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ADULT |
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Near-lateral view of an Eurasian Eagle Owl perched in a
tree covered with lichen
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2016]
Near-lateral view of an Eurasian Eagle Owl hiding in the
shade of a tree covered with lichen
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2016]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
