Rock Eagle-Owl Bubo bengalensis Scientific name definitions

50–56 cm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); one male c. 1100 g, one 90-day-old young c. 1374 g (2 Ramanujam, M.E. and Murugavel, T. (2009). A preliminary report on the development of young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Puducherry, southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1(10): 519-524. Close ). Large, dark brown owl with prominent ear-tufts . Resembles B. bubo; differs from race hemachalana of latter (which occurs sympatrically with present species in Kashmir) (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) in smaller size, darker and more tawny-buff coloration with black mottling and streaking, somewhat less heavy streaking below; irides deep yellow to orange-red (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); cere greyish; bill greenish-horn to slaty-black (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); talons dusky-black. Dark  and light morphs  , former having darker ground colour with fewer light spots above. Distinguished from Ketupa zeylonensis by fully feathered tarsi  and toes, more erect ear-tufts , broader breast streaking, and plainly banded tail. Juvenile  lacks ear-tufts , obscurely barred on head, mantle and underparts, and perhaps has paler eyes (3 Schofield, P. (2005). Notes on the Bengal Eagle Owl. Avicultural Magazine. 111: 175-180. Close ).

Indian Subcontinent (except Sri Lanka) N to foothills of Himalayas.

Rocky hills and wooded country with scrub, ravines, old mango plantations, groves with aged trees, tropical thorn and sal, and rocky semi-desert with thorn scrub, ruins; sometimes near cultivation and villages; avoids pure desert, as well as humid evergreen forest. From lowlands up to 2400 m elevation (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but mainly below 1500 m (6 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). Ecological effects on morphometric development of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(4): 1677-1685. Close ).

Resident (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Small mammals, especially rodents; also birds to size of peafowl (Pavo), lizards, snakes, frogs, fish, crabs and large insects (7 Ramanujam, M.E. (2006). On the prey of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Pondicherry, southern India. Zoos’ Print Journal. 21(5): 2231-2240. Close , 8 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). The diet of Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis and its agronomic significance. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(8): 2011-2017. Close , 9 Ramanujam, M.E. and Singh, T. (2017). A comparative study of the diet of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) from two distinct habitats in the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry area, southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 9(3): 9892-9902. Close ). Recent detailed dietary study revealed that species is a generalist, but diet dominated by agricultural pests, which contribute 88% of total biomass, with rodent prey including lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota bengalensis), large bandicoot rat (B. indica), Indian bush rat (Golunda ellioti), soft-furred field rat (Millardia meltada), house mouse (Mus musculus), field mouse (M. booduga), Elliot’s spiny mouse (M. saxicola), black rat (Rattus rattus), Indian gerbil (Tatera indica), long-tailed tree mouse (Vandelura olivacea), common house shrew (Suncus murinus), pygmy shrew (S. etruscus) and Anderson’s shrew (S. stolizcanus) (8 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). The diet of Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis and its agronomic significance. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(8): 2011-2017. Close ). Other prey recorded during same study were as follows: Indian fulvus fruit bat (Rousettus lesheanaulti), lesser dog-faced bat (Cynopterus sphinx), Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix grisea), Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Jungle Myna (A. fuscus), an egret (Egretta sp.), Western Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), Large Grey Babbler (Argya malcolmi), Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus), a quail (Coturnix sp.), Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), House Crow (Corvus splendens), lizards (Calotes sp.), geckos, skinks, a snake (Coelognathus helena), arachnids (Mesobuthus tamulus, Heterometrus xanthopus, H. granulomanus, Galeodus orientalis, G. indica), rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros), long-horned beetle (Batocera rufomaculata), stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), grasshoppers, mantids, young Fellidae and Leporidae (Lepus nigricolis) and amphibians (8 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). The diet of Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis and its agronomic significance. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(8): 2011-2017. Close ). Largely nocturnal, but often perches on rock pinnacle or other vantage point well before sunset and after sunrise. Hunts by gliding from perch on to prey; sometimes makes searching flights. Capture success of 146 attempts to catch frogs was 28·7% overall; success was highest (52·2%) when owls attacked from a height of less than 2 m and substantially lower (12·5%) when attack height was 5–6 m; success was zero when owls attacked from heights of more than 6 m, and when they waded into water to pursue frogs (10 Ramanujam, M.E. (2016). Perch height and the hunting success of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin)(Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) targeting anuran prey. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 8(6): 8905-8908. Close ).

Deep double hoot on single pitch (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), “bu-whúoh”  , with second note longer and stressed (higher-pitched than B. bubo) (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), repeated after several seconds (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); female a little higher-pitched; also growls, hisses (in aggression), coughs. Around nest or when creating scrape (3 Schofield, P. (2005). Notes on the Bengal Eagle Owl. Avicultural Magazine. 111: 175-180. Close ), gives sequence of clucking notes or “huwúo-huwúo-huwúo...” given by both sexes (female again higher-pitched) (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays Oct–May, chiefly Feb–Apr; peak periods vary locally. Double-brooded, at least in captivity (3 Schofield, P. (2005). Notes on the Bengal Eagle Owl. Avicultural Magazine. 111: 175-180. Close ), but not even replacement clutches noted in study in S India (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ). No nest; lays on bare soil in saucer-like scrape (created by both sexes, especially male) (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) on rock ledge or recess in cliff; sometimes on ground under tree or bush; c. 68% pairs change nest site in subsequent years (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ). Usually 3–4 (2 Ramanujam, M.E. and Murugavel, T. (2009). A preliminary report on the development of young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Puducherry, southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1(10): 519-524. Close ) white (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) eggs (2–5) laid at intervals of 0·5–4 days (mean 1·7 days) (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ), mean size 53·6 mm × 43·8 mm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) (range 49–55 mm × 41–46 mm), mass 39–59 g (mean 51·1 g) (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ); incubation from first egg, by female, fed by male (12 Ramanujam, M.E. (2015). The time budget and behavioural traits of young and adult Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831)(Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in and around a nesting site: a preliminary report. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7(14): 8139-8147. Close ), period 33–35 days (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ) (39 days in one report of captive (3 Schofield, P. (2005). Notes on the Bengal Eagle Owl. Avicultural Magazine. 111: 175-180. Close ) ); young hatch asynchronously; chick  with buffish-white or whitish down , achieves most weight gain by 35–40 days while full juvenile plumage  attained by day 35 and persists even after 60 days (2 Ramanujam, M.E. and Murugavel, T. (2009). A preliminary report on the development of young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Puducherry, southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1(10): 519-524. Close ), first flight at c. 52 (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close )–58 days (6 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). Ecological effects on morphometric development of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(4): 1677-1685. Close ), but mass does not peak until day 90 (2 Ramanujam, M.E. and Murugavel, T. (2009). A preliminary report on the development of young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Puducherry, southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1(10): 519-524. Close ); remain dependent for c. 6 months (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ), with post-natal dispersal starting at c. 200 days (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ). Some plasticity in development of young correlated with geographical region: in W Indian populations rapid growth starts only at age 25 days and can fly only from age 58 days, whereas in S India lag phase of wing growth is less and nestling that deserts nest around 35 days is capable of gliding (6 Pande, S. and Dahanukar, N. (2011). Ecological effects on morphometric development of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 3(4): 1677-1685. Close ). Mean breeding success 1·5 fledglings per occupied nest (range 0–4) (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ); one record of 5 nestlings surviving to fledging (13 Sultana, A., Hussain, M.S. and Arafat, Y. (2013). Nesting of Indian Eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis in Aravalli Biodiversity Park, a restored site in Delhi. Indian Birds. 8(3):84. Close ). Particularly productive territories possess several alternative nest sites and open landscapes such as agricultural lands and scrublands (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ); vulnerable to predation by ground predators such as the common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites) and small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) (11 Pande, S., Pawashe, A., Mahajan, M., Mahabal, A., Joglekar, C. and Yosef, R. (2011). Breeding biology, nesting habitat, and diet of the Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis). Journal of Raptor Research. 45(3): 211-219. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. No details on population levels; generally uncommon, but perhaps more common locally in N & C India. Records from Bangladesh considered to be unconfirmed (14 Thompson, P. M., W. G. Harvey, D. L. Johnson, D. J. Millin, S. M. A. Rashid, D. A. Scott, C. Stanford, and J. D. Woolner (1993). Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh. Forktail 9:13–44. Close ). Known from a number of protected areas including Great Himalayan National Park (15 Gaston, A.J., Garson, P.J. and Pandey, S. (1993). Birds recorded in Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India. Forktail. 9: 45–57. Close ) and more recently, Aravalli Biodiversity Park (13 Sultana, A., Hussain, M.S. and Arafat, Y. (2013). Nesting of Indian Eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis in Aravalli Biodiversity Park, a restored site in Delhi. Indian Birds. 8(3):84. Close ). Further studies needed on ecology and biology. Use of owls in sorcery and witchcraft is widespread in states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh and may affect present species (13 Sultana, A., Hussain, M.S. and Arafat, Y. (2013). Nesting of Indian Eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis in Aravalli Biodiversity Park, a restored site in Delhi. Indian Birds. 8(3):84. Close ).