[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Bubo coromandus | [authority] Latham, 1790 | [UK] Dusky Eagle-Owl | [FR] Grand duc sombre | [DE] Koromandeluhu | [ES] Buho de Coromandel | [NL] Coromandeloehoe
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
Members of the genus Bubo are the largest of the owls. Heavily built with powerful talons they are recognisable by their size, their prominent ear-tufts, and their eyes that vary in colour from yellow to brown but are frequently vivid orange. The genus, including the Asian fish owls of the genus Ketupa – now believed to be part of Bubo – comprises of 20 species ranging Eurasia, Indonesia, Africa and the Americas. DNA evidence suggests that the Snowy Owls of Nyctea and the fish owls of Scotopelia are also candidates for inclusion in this genus.
Physical charateristics
Dusky Eagle Owl (Bubo coromandus). Size 53 cm (21 in). Large size with erect ear tufts when alert. Greyish brown upperparts marked with narrow dark streaks together with pale greyish buff underparts with fine blackish streaks distinctive. Iris orange. Feathered tarsi.
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 56 | cm | size max.: | 60 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 0 | days | incubation max.: | 0 | days |
| fledging min.: | 0 | days | fledging max.: | 0 | days |
| broods: | 0 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Range
Oriental Region : Pakistan to West Thailand, also East China
Habitat
Found in forest and forest edge, plantation. Prefers watered and well wooded areas. Mango tree groves, and old tamarind and other densely foliaged trees are preferred.
Reproduction
The nest is made of sticks in the fork of the trunk of a large tree preferably near water and often in the vicinity of human habitation. Clutch size 1-3 eggs which hatch asynchronous. Usually the older chicks survive. Both parents take care of the young.
Feeding habits
Feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects.
Video Dusky Eagle-Owl
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_XZSIYSVuQ
copyright: Anthony Laven
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Resident
Distribution map
