Greyish eagle-owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greyish eagle-owl |
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The Greyish Eagle-Owl (also called the Vermiculated Eagle-Owl) is a pretty big owl. Its scientific name is Bubo cinerascens. You can find this owl in the northern parts of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. For a long time, people thought it was just a northern type of the Spotted Eagle-Owl.
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What Does the Greyish Eagle-Owl Look Like?
This owl is about 43 cm (17 in) long. That's about the length of a school ruler! It weighs around 500 g (18 oz), which is about the same as a small bag of sugar.
The Greyish Eagle-Owl has a mix of dark brown, buff (a yellowish-tan color), and white feathers on its upper body. Its belly feathers have fine lines, making it look greyish-brown. This is similar to the Spotted Eagle-Owl. However, the Greyish Eagle-Owl has dark brown eyes, not yellow ones. It also has a brownish face with a strong brown circle around each eye. Even though it's about the same length as the Spotted Eagle-Owl, it's usually a bit lighter.
What Does the Greyish Eagle-Owl Sound Like?
Scientists didn't study the Greyish Eagle-Owl's calls much until recently. This is because they used to think it was the same as the Spotted Eagle-Owl.
A male Greyish Eagle-Owl's call in West Africa sounds like "koo-whoo". The "koo" part is quick and strong. The "whoo" part is a bit lower in sound and lasts longer. This owl makes this call every few seconds. It sounds quite different from the Spotted Eagle-Owl's call.
Where Do Greyish Eagle-Owls Live?
You can find the Greyish Eagle-Owl in northern sub-Saharan Africa. This area stretches from Mauritania and Liberia in the west, all the way east to Sudan and Somalia.
These owls like to live in dry, rocky deserts. They also live in open grasslands called savannahs. In Somalia, they can even be found in lowland forests.
How Do Greyish Eagle-Owls Live?
During the day, Greyish Eagle-Owls hide to rest. They might roost in rocky spots like cracks in cliffs or among big rocks. They also use bushes, trees, or even buildings made by people.
These owls eat mostly large insects and other big bugs like spiders. They also hunt small animals with backbones, like rodents or small birds. They usually hunt by sitting on a perch and waiting. When they see something, they swoop down to catch it. Sometimes, they even catch insects or bats while flying!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The way Greyish Eagle-Owls raise their young is probably similar to the Spotted Eagle-Owl. A female owl usually lays 2 or 3 eggs. She lays them in a shallow dip on the ground or among rocks. Sometimes, she might choose a sheltered spot on a cliff. They might even use old, flat nests built by bigger birds in trees.
Related Owls
The Greyish Eagle-Owl is very closely related to the Spotted Eagle-Owl. Some people still think it's just a northern type of the Spotted Eagle-Owl. However, in places like Kenya and the Horn of Africa where both owls live, they don't seem to breed with each other. This suggests they are different species.
