Indian eagle-owl

The Indian eagle-owl, or the Bengal eagle-owl or rock eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian subcontinent. It is splashed with brown and grey, and has a white throat patch with black small stripes. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl. It is usually seen in pairs. It has a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk.

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Distribution

Region

Indian Subcontinent

Typical Environment

Found across much of India and into adjoining parts of Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, it favors hilly and rocky scrub, dry deciduous woodland edges, ravines, and escarpments. It commonly uses cliffs, large boulders, and rocky outcrops for roosting and nesting. The species tolerates human-modified landscapes, hunting along field edges and village outskirts where prey is abundant. It generally avoids dense rainforest and very high elevations.

Altitude Range

0–1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size50–56 cm

Wing Span125–150 cm

Male Weight1.6 kg

Female Weight2 kg

Life Expectancy15 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This large horned owl has striking orange eyes and long, slanted ear tufts that give it a formidable appearance. Its deep, resonant booming calls carry far and are most often heard at dusk and dawn, sometimes in duets from pairs. It often roosts on rocky ledges or within scrubby ravines by day and becomes an active ambush predator at night.

Gallery

Indian eagle-owl in a museum

The underwing shows a dark carpal patch. The base of the primaries are unbarred.

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

strong flier with deep, powerful wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs; pairs maintain territories and may duet at twilight. Nests are typically on rocky ledges, in caves, or on sheltered ground scrapes, with 1–3 eggs. Adults roost discreetly by day and become active hunters after dusk.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A deep, resonant series of booming hoots, often rendered as far-carrying two-note phrases. Calls are most frequent at dusk and dawn and may be exchanged antiphonally between pair members.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Indian golden oriole

The Indian golden oriole is a species of oriole found in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. The species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Eurasian golden oriole, but is now considered a full species. Adults can be told apart from the Eurasian golden oriole by the black of the eye stripe extending behind the eye.

Indian grey hornbill

The Indian gray hornbill is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn. It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues.

Indian jungle crow

The Indian jungle crow is a species of crow found across the Indian subcontinent south of the Himalayas. It is very common and readily distinguished from the house crow, which has a grey neck. In the past the species was treated as a subspecies of another crow species, but vocalizations and evidence from ectoparasite co-evolution and phylogenetic evidence have led to it being considered as a distinct species in modern taxonomic treatments. It differs in its voice from the large-billed crow found in the higher elevations of the Himalayas and the eastern jungle crow overlaps in the eastern part of its range. In appearance, it can be difficult to distinguish from either of these species although the plumage tends to be more uniformly glossed in purple and has a longer bill with a fine tip and a less arched culmen. The Himalayan species has a slightly wedge-shaped tail, unlike the rounded tail of the Indian jungle crow and tends to glide a lot.

Indian nightjar

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