How do you identify a Marsh Owl?

Medium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin-shaped head with small 'ear' tufts. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Marsh Owl?

The Marsh Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 334 g.

Where can you see a Marsh Owl?

The Marsh Owl occurs in 24 countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

What birds look similar to a Marsh Owl?

The Marsh Owl is most easily confused with the Stygian Owl, the Madagascar Owl and the Abyssinian Owl.

Is the Marsh Owl endangered?

The Marsh Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Marsh Owl

Asio capensis

Owls · Strigiformes · Rare

The Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) is a rare owl found in 24 countries, weighing about 334 g. The marsh owl is a medium to large species of owl in the family Strigidae.

Least ConcernRareEats omnivoregrasslandscrape nest334 g

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 1 — Photo: timboucher · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 2 — Photo: timboucher · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 3 — Photo: Tom Field · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 4 — Photo: Tom Field · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 5 — Photo: Tom Field · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 6 — Photo: Tom Field · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 7 — Photo: neotrigonia · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 8 — Photo: neotrigonia · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 9 — Photo: Justin Ponder · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis), photo 10 — Photo: (c) Matthew Fainman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Marsh Owl

The marsh owl is a medium to large species of owl in the family Strigidae.

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

How to identify it

Medium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin-shaped head with small 'ear' tufts. The facial disc is pale buff, with a distinct dark brown rim with buff speckles. There is a dark brown area around the eyes, which are also dark brown. Its ear-tufts are earth-brown and quite small, often not visible, and set near the centre of the forehead. The tail is dark brown, barred pale buff with a whitish tip. Tarsi are feathered pale tawny-buff and toes are covered with pale buffish plumes, leaving the dark brown tips bare. Claws are blackish.

Where it lives

South Africa Morocco Kenya Madagascar Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Namibia Tanzania Mozambique Eswatini Angola Malawi Gabon Nigeria Rwanda Congo - Brazzaville Guinea Cameroon Lesotho Uganda Senegal

Recorded as a rare visitor in Congo - Kinshasa, Mali.

When to see it

The Marsh Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Marsh Owl?: Medium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin-shaped head with small 'ear' tufts. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Marsh Owl?: The Marsh Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 334 g.
Where can you see a Marsh Owl?: The Marsh Owl occurs in 24 countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
What birds look similar to a Marsh Owl?: The Marsh Owl is most easily confused with the Stygian Owl, the Madagascar Owl and the Abyssinian Owl.
Is the Marsh Owl endangered?: The Marsh Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Marsh 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.

Play BeakBrain

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