© ML-02

The enormous owl spent the whole night noisily dissecting the hare it had caught

Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo Camp

Fuji Velvia, Sigma EX 180/3.5 IF, Minolta 800Si, Minolta HS 5400 flashgu, tripod

More pictures of the Giant Eagle Owl

Giant Eagle Owl

a very large owl, length 58-65 cm wingspan 143 cm

ear tufts less conspicuous than those of other eagle owls

Voice

irregular gruff hooting hru hru, hru-hru-hru, deep and somewhat booming

Habits

Solitary, in pairs, or family groups of 3 birds. Mostly nocturnal, rarely hunts in daylight, flight buoyant, hunts by swooping onto prey from perch, may catch roosting birds in trees, or insects in flight
Food

varied diet from vervet monkeys, rabbits (here) to amphibians

Habitat

    lives in woodland, savanna, and tree-lined watercourses

    Distribution

    Africa south of Sahara, in southern Africa mainly from Orange River and Zululand northwards

Status

Rare and isolated in eastern Cape and Natal, fairly common to common from northern Cape and northern Transvaal northward, resident