European/Eurasian Eagle Owl

Bubo Bubo

Distribution: Widespread but locally rare or absent from many areas of Europe and North Africa. Wild populations can be found in some areas of Britain and across the Atlas mountains of Algeria, into Morocco and north into parts of Scandinavia and Siberia, Northern parts of India, the Himalayas, and Sakhalin and then into China.

Habitat: Primarily rocky and mountainous landscapes, often with scattered trees, small groves, old growth woodlands and forests with clearings. Cultivated areas, open to semi-open areas with quarries, cliff faces and ravines as well as near human settlements. 

Food: A varied diet, but mammals ranging in size from rodents, hedgehogs, rabbit, and hare and in some cases prey the size of fox and small deer. Birds form up an important part of this species food source, the male in particular is recorded preying upon many other different type of birds or prey, such as buzzards, goshawks, eagle and many other owl species.

Facts: 

• One of the large owl species in the world, and the most powerful.
• Mainly active at dusk and dawn but will hunt either day or night if required.
• Despite the large size of this owl, their flight is almost soundless and surprising they are a rather grace flier, with soft but powerful wing-beats, interrupted by a long, low gliding flight when travelling over open country.
• Generally still-hunts from a perch with prey being taken on the ground but may also hunt for prey by either soaring at height or in a low searching pattern, rather reminiscent of that of the barn owl.
• The average weight of this species depends on area, but weights range from 1,570-2,800 grams for the males, while the larger females range from 1,750 to 4,200 grams.
• 1-4 eggs are laid and incubated by the female, while the male provide food.
• Ages for this species range from 20-60 years, these results include both wild and captive bred birds.