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.
Region
Southern Africa
Typical Environment
Found mainly in South Africa and Lesotho, with occurrences into adjacent Namibia, Botswana, and Eswatini, especially where rugged terrain provides cliffs and rocky outcrops. It favors escarpments, kloofs, and mountainous fynbos, as well as Karoo edges and river gorges. The species adapts to human-modified landscapes by using road cuttings and disused quarries for roosting and nesting. It typically avoids dense forests and the flattest open plains, preferring broken terrain with scattered cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Cape eagle-owl is a large, ear-tufted owl native to southern Africa, favoring rocky hillsides, cliffs, and gorges. It often roosts on ledges or among boulders and will readily use quarries and peri-urban rocky sites. Pairs are largely sedentary and may occupy the same territory for years. Its deep, resonant hoots carry far across valleys at dusk and dawn.
The nominate subspecies at the Pretoria Zoo
B. c. mackinderi at Tierpark Berlin
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
strong flier
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in bonded pairs that hold territories year-round. Pairs are monogamous and often remain together for multiple seasons. Nesting is usually on cliff ledges, cave entrances, or in sheltered recesses, where 1–2 eggs are laid on a simple scrape. Both adults attend the young, which often loaf on nearby rocks before fledging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a deep, resonant series of hoots, often given as a duet with the female’s reply slightly higher-pitched. Calls carry well across rocky valleys at dusk and pre-dawn, with additional barks and bill-snaps used in agitation.
