| Description |
similar to the great horned owl, but much larger; prominent ear tufts are usually laid back; streaked breast, mottled brownish feathers; some have orangish-brown feathers on the face, underparts, wings, and back; orange-yellow or deep fiery orange eyes; adults and juveniles similar in appearance |
| Sex |
coloration the same for both sexes; females larger than males; call of the female is slightly higher pitched than the male's |
| Age |
once past first year, into the 20's in the wild; recorded into their 60's in captivity |
| Length |
24-30" |
| Wingspan |
5-7' |
| Weight |
3.5-9 lbs |
| Habitat |
rocky outcrops and coniferous forests; hunt in open plains areas; warm deserts; can be found in taiga, farmlands, steppes, semi-arid areas, grasslands |
| Status |
never common; can be considered rare and locally endangered; have been shot and trapped extensively; affected by deforestation |
| Range |
northern Europe through Asia and into northern Africa |
| Behavior |
nests are shallow depressions scratched out on rock ledges or in caves; lay 1-4 eggs at 3-day intervals from the end of February to the end of April, depending on food supply; the female does the majority of the incubating for 31-36 days, while the male hunts; the chicks fledge at 7-8 weeks, but are cared for by the parents for 20-24 weeks; if the nest is on the ground they may fledge earlier; swoop down on prey when hunting; can catch prey from the air or the ground, or may be seen plunging into water |
| Diet |
medium sized mammals and birds, like opossums, hares, foxes, ducks, quail, and pheasant; also eat insects and small rodents; roe deer fawns; coastal residents may feed mainly on ducks and seabirds |
| Vocalization |
long, booming "oo-hoooh;" females sometimes make a coarse "kraah" sound during mating season; chicks make the "kraah" sound as well; when threatened they may bark and growl |
| Other Information |
Eurasian Eagle Owls are the largest owls in the world and have no real predators except electrocution, collision with traffic, and shooting |
