Owls
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
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Voice
Song
Song
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 56–75 cm; bulky, almost barrel-shaped silhouette
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Long feather tufts above the head; bright orange eyes
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Tawny-rufous plumage with dark vertical streaks
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Low, fused two-syllable hoot, stress on the first syllable: "ooh-hu"
About the species
Across much of its range, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl has warm tawny or ochre plumage, mottled and streaked with dark brown; some populations are paler or greyer. Long feather tufts rise above vivid orange eyes, while the pale face has no sharply defined border. A light throat patch can show beneath the face, and the buff chest and belly are marked with dark streaks and fine bars.
Most activity comes after sunset and before sunrise, when it hunts with shallow wingbeats followed by long glides. Its deep, resonant call sounds like "ooh-hu," with the first note stronger; a male and female may answer in turn. It usually keeps to the same territory, and its calling becomes especially frequent in the colder months.
Rocky slopes and cliffs, often near woodland edges, scrub or open ground, provide its usual haunts; quiet park-like places in some cities can also suit it. It takes rodents and rabbits as well as other animals, switching to other prey when available. It is largely resident across its wide Eurasian range, usually staying in one territory rather than migrating.
Where to find
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In quiet park-like corners of European and Asian cities, the Eurasian eagle-owl is only an occasional presence; after sunset, listen for its deep, two-part hoot.
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On wooded slopes broken by rock outcrops or ravines, listen for a loud territorial hoot from a prominent rocky perch.
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At a forest edge, clearing, or field, watch at dusk for a brief low flight over the ground followed by a sudden strike at prey.
