Spotted Eagle Owl

There is nothing more incredible than seeing these beautiful bushveld owls perched at the edge of a tree branch, their yellow, saucerlike eyes gleaming in a ranger’s spotlight, mirroring the full, orange moon behind.  They are distinguished from the similar Cape Eagle Owl, which has orange eyes and is found in more isolated populations, particularly in the three Cape Provinces of South Africa.

The Spotted Eagle Owl is distributed throughout South Africa and is fairly common.  They are generally sedentary and resident with little juvenile dispersion.  Conservation-wise, they are not threatened, despite threats including entanglement in barb wire fences, chicks being picked up before they can fly, drowning, and juveniles flying into vehicles.  In their favour, they are able to breed before the age of one year and breed year-round, although egg-laying is more prevalent during the second half of the year (June – November).  Nest survival is high at around 100% recorded, although there are no records for actual breeding success.  They are known to be double-brooded when food is plentiful.

Spotted Eagle Owl

Also increasing these owls’ chances of survival is the fact that they live almost anywhere.  Their cosmopolitan habitat includes outcrops and drainage lines in the western deserts of southern Africa; forest margins and grasslands in the east; woodlands to the north; and Karoo scrub.  They are most abundant in open scrub and grassland habitats with low rocky ridges and trees for nesting and roosting.  They are also resident in many towns and cities, nesting on buildings and hunting along road verges and under street lights.  They are rare only in sand deserts and high grasslands.

They are monogamous, solitary nesters and territorial.  They often nest in broken or vegetated habitats but may roost in more open areas, usually 2 km from the nest.  Roosting sites vary and often include underground aardvark (ant bear) burrows, underneath grassy tufts or on branches, ledges, banks, cliffs or buildings.  Favoured roosts often have an accumulation of droppings, pellets and moulted feathers.  They often carry ticks.  They are mobbed by other birds, including raptors, by day and occasionally injured by crows.  They bathe and drink regularly if water is available but can survive in areas without water.

These owls employ various foraging techniques: most prey is caught in a slow glide down from a lookout post, although prey is sometimes chased on foot and small prey items may be picked up while the bird is walking around.  At night, it makes a fast dash into foliage to snatch roosting animals.  It uses aerial pursuit to catch insects, bats, swallows at communal roosts and night jars.  It is noctunal, active mainly at dusk and at night.  It is rarely active by day but will most often become diurnal when joining Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks to follow honey badgers.  While the bulk of the bird’s diet is made up of rodents, shrews and small birds, it is known to feed on at least 60 prey species ranging from hares, bushbabies, falcons, francolins (a pheasant-type bird) and fruit bats to small insects, spiders, snails, crabs and millipedes.  It will also take large poisonous snakes, molerats, moths, dead birds, fish and carrion.

For our European readers: This species is considered separate from the northern Vermiculated Owl found north of the Equator, based on that bird’s brown (not yellow) eyes and matt-grey plumage.

You have a very good chance of seeing this beautiful and unforgettable bird in reserves visited on our Bushveld Birding Tours.

Information obtained from: “Roberts Birds of South Africa” – Ed VII