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The tawny fish owl is a fish owl species in the family known as typical owls, Strigidae. It is native from southern Nepal to Bangladesh, Vietnam and China and Bhutan. Due to its wide geographical distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Like other fish owls, the tawny fish owl has large ear tufts but they usually hang to the sides of the head and are distinctly messy and tousled looking. They have yellow eyes. Tawny fish owls have been described as the most "attractive" of the fish owls. They tend to be an orangey-rufous color on the crown and upperparts, which are overlaid with broad, blackish markings on the central part of the feathers and spots of the same color as the reddish-brown feather edges. The scapulars are a dingy yellow color, forming a contrasting band which runs across the owl's shoulders.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal.
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Dusky Eagle-OwlKetupa coromandaThe dusky eagle-owl is a large greyish-brown owl with prominent ear tufts.
Spot-bellied Eagle-OwlKetupa nipalensisThe spot-bellied eagle-owl is a large species of owl.
Learn the Tawny Fish Owl for real
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