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Indian eagle-owl Facts

Indian eagle-owl Facts
Indian eagle owl, also known as Bengal eagle owl, is a species of owl that is closely related to the European eagle owl (once classified as its subspecies). As it name suggests - Indian eagle owl can be found across the Indian subcontinent. Indian eagle-owl inhabits rocky hills, semi-deserts, mango orchards and wooded scrublands. People in some parts of India believe that beating of hungry Indian eagle owl can force this bird to speak and predict destiny of its tormentor. Despite organized hunting due to false beliefs, number of Indian eagle owls is stable in the wild and this bird in not on the list of endangered animals.
Interesting Indian eagle-owl Facts:
Indian eagle owl can grow to the height of 19 to 22 inches and reach 39 to 70 ounces of weight. Females are larger than males.
Upper part of Indian eagle owl is dark colored, covered with brown, black and white feathers. Lower part of the body is pale and covered with dark colored stripes. Indian eagle owls can be lighter or darker colored, depending on the habitat.
Indian eagle owl has brown ear tufts and large orange-colored eyes.
Indian eagle-owl has a wingspan of 50 to 60 inches. When in the air, Indian eagle owl combines active flying with passive gliding. It often flies close to the ground.
Indian eagle owls pretend to have wing injury or fly in a zigzag manner when they want to distract predators and to keep them away from their offspring.
Indian eagle owl is crepuscular animal (active in the dusk and dawn).
Indian eagle owl is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on rodents, reptiles, crabs, amphibians and large invertebrates.
Indian eagle owl does not swallow its prey in one piece. It tears apart its prey before it swallows it.
Indian eagle owl produces resonant, loud, two-note "whooo" calls that can be heard at dusk and dawn. During the nesting season, both males and females produce clicks.
Calls of Indian eagle owl are associated with misfortune in India. People believe that Indian eagle owl predicts death of a family member if it vocalizes from the roof of the house.
Mating season of Indian eagle owl lasts from October to May.
Female nests in the shallow scrapes in the ground, or in the rock ledge and river bank and lays 2 to 5 creamy white eggs. Incubation period lasts 35 days.
Indian eagle owls are covered with white feathers when they hatch. They communicate via clicks and hisses. Young birds spread their wings when they want to trick predators that they are bigger than they actually are.
Indian eagle owls reach adult size at the age of 10 weeks, but they depend on their parent until the age of 6 months.
Indian eagle owl can survive 25 to 30 years in the wild.


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