African Grass Owl

Tyto capensis

Least ConcernRareVertebratesGrasslandPlatform nestLarge · 365 g

About the African Grass Owl

The African grass owl or simply grass owl is a species of owl in the barn owl family, Tytonidae.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The African grass owl resembles the barn owl and has a heart shaped whitish-cream facial disc, with a narrow yellowish-buff rim which is densely spotted dark. The eyes are brownish-black, and the bill is whitish to pale pink. The entire upperparts from the crown to the lower back and wing-coverts are a uniform sooty blackish-brown, with scattered small white spots and greyish flecks. The primary feathers and secondary feathers are pale brownish-grey with dark bars and yellow bases. Voice: They have a screeching call which is similar to that of the barn owl, but it is less strident. A high-pitched sibilant tremolo lasting one to two seconds is thought to be the song of the male.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Congo - Kinshasa, Lesotho, Angola.

When to see it

Peak activity in June · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the African Grass Owl for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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