Bubo bubo
Eurasian eagle-owl

Eagle owls primarily live in the Palearctic region, although they can travel as far south as the Oriental Region and Ethiopian Region and as far north as the far reaches of Siberia. They are found in North Africa, Europe, The Middle East, and Asia. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; Konig, Becking, and Weick, 1999; Parry-Jones, 1998; The Peregrine Fund, 2003)

These owls can be found in many different kinds of habitats including wooded areas (coniferous forests), warm deserts, mountain ranges, and riverbeds. They prefer to live in rocky landscapes, especially when nesting. Eagle owls search for habitats with adequate food supply and proper nesting sites. Their habitats vary greatly, and they can also be found in open areas that have few trees like farmlands and grasslands. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; The Peregrine Fund, 2003)

Eagle owls are the largest owls in the world, and they are best known for their large, striking, orange eyes. They are often called the Old World version of America's widely distributed great horned owl. They have prominent ear tufts and are primarily brown-black and tawny-buff in color. Their facial disk is heavily marked with black, gray, and white. Their upper parts are darker than their lower parts, which have black streaks, and their throat is white. It is interesting to note that these owls become paler in the northeastern geographic regions and get progressively darker as you move to the Pacific coast. Also, size tends to decrease from north to south, and east to west. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; Konig, Becking, and Weick, 1999; The Peregrine Fund, 2003)

Eagle owls have relatively long life spans once they reach adulthood. They have no real natural enemies. In the wild, they live for approximately 20 years, but they can live more than 60 years in captivity. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; Parry-Jones, 1998)

Eagle owls are primarily solitary animals except during the mating period. They fiercely defend their territory against other owls and will only overlap territories slightly if food is sparce. Eagle owls prefer to stay within the same territory unless they are forced to leave due to food shortages or if they are driven out by other owls. Despite their large size, they are very elusive creatures, which makes them difficult to study in their natural habitats. Eagle owls spend most of their days roosting high in trees remaining relatively inactive. They are nocturnal and become active at dusk and remain so throughout the night. When food is rare, they will hunt during the day. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002)

Eagle owls are known for their loud calls. They are heard far more than they are seen. They use their various hoots and clucks to let others know they have entered or are entering certain territories. Different hoots represent different moods and are easily recognizable between each member of the species. Also, eagle owls are able to decipher the size and distance of intruders based on the intensity of their call. They also use a low gutteral hoot to attract mates. It's interesting to note that even though eagle owls are difficult to study, they (like other owls) cough up what is known as an owl pellet after their stomach goes through the digestive process. These owl pellets contain the hair, feathers, and bones of prey they were unable to digest. These pellets are very useful to scientists because they help them understand the food habits of these elusive birds. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; Parry-Jones, 1998)

Eagle owls are carnivores. They are primarily nocturnal hunters and have various hunting techniques. They take their prey in flight or on the ground. They prefer to hunt in open spacious locations rather than forests. Most owls are very capable hunters and the eagle owl is no exception. Owl wings have evolved to make very little noise when flapping. With their night vision, advanced hearing, and silent flight they are the hit men of their territory. Their prey usually has no idea they were being stalked. They feed on almost anything they can catch including rats, mice, voles, beetles and even large prey like deer fawns and foxes. They will also feed on other birds such as crows, ducks, and even other owls. Dominant prey can vary from habitat to habitat but is most often small rodents. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; Parry-Jones, 1998)

Once eagle owls reach adulthood, they are at a very low risk of predation. They are at the top of the food chain in their niche. They are not a major food source for any other species. The only time they are at risk of predation is during their early years. They are at risk from any predator too large for them too eat. Fortunately, the mother stays with the young for most of this period and keeps the predators at bay. Due to their striped, spotted, and varied coloring, they are extremely well camouflaged, especially when perching in the trees. (Parry-Jones, 1998)

Eagle owls are at the top of their food chain. They are particularly useful in keeping the number of rodents down in their various ecosystems. The removal of this species can cause the rodent population in a given area to grow significantly. Therefore, they may be a keystone predator. (Konig, Becking, and Weick, 1999; Parry-Jones, 1998)

There are no known adverse affects of the eagle owl on humans.

Eagle owls are economically beneficial to farmers that want to keep the number of rodents down on their land. Many birdwatchers will also pay to get a glimpse of this rare bird in its natural habitat as well as in zoos. (Centre for the Conservation of Specialized Species, 2002; The Peregrine Fund, 2003)

Eagle owls are considered rare but not yet threatened. Their numbers are steadily declining due to habitat loss from human encroachment. (The Peregrine Fund, 2003)