Cape Eagle-Owl
Bubo capensis
The Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) is a rare owl found in 13 countries, weighing about 1.1 kg. The Cape eagle-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Cape Eagle-Owl
The Cape eagle-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is one of several large species of the eagle-owl genus Bubo.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is a large owl, though intermediate in size among other large Bubo owls. Its total length ranges from 46 to 61 cm (18 to 24 in). Males weigh from 905 to 1,387 g (32 to 49 oz) while the larger females range from 1,240 to 1,800 g (44 to 63 oz). The wing chord measures 34.3–41.8 cm (13.5–16.5 in) while the tail measures 15.5–26.6 cm (6.1–10.5 in). This owl is dark brown above with prominent ear-tufts and yellow or yellowish-orange eyes. It is dark below with the sides of the breast being blotchy brown and the paler chest overlaid with white, black and tawny-fulvous markings, variously.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Tanzania.
When to see it
The Cape Eagle-Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in June. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Cape Eagle-Owl?
- This is a large owl, though intermediate in size among other large Bubo owls. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Cape Eagle-Owl?
- The Cape Eagle-Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 1.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Cape Eagle-Owl?
- The Cape Eagle-Owl occurs in 13 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Namibia.
- What birds look similar to a Cape Eagle-Owl?
- The Cape Eagle-Owl is most easily confused with the Lesser Horned Owl, the Greyish Eagle-Owl and the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl.
- Is the Cape Eagle-Owl endangered?
- The Cape Eagle-Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Cape Eagle-Owl for real
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