Spotted Eagle-Owl

Afrikaans name: Gevlekte ooruil

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bubo africanus

The Spotted Eagle-Owl is a common bird in South Africa and may be found in both the countryside and built-up areas.

It can be up to 50 cm in length and weigh up to 850 grams. The wingspan may reach 1.4 metres. Male and female have the same colouration.

The Spotted Eagle-Owl feeds on a variety of different foods including small mammals and birds, insects, frogs and reptiles.

Pairs mate for life. They don't put any effort into making a nest and will just lay their eggs on the ground, rocky ledge or even a building. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid.

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References and further reading

A Delight of Owls - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 90

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 159

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 121

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 121

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Year Published: 1970 - Page: 160

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 87

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 273

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 108

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 48

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 125

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 133

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 42

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 77

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 110

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Year Published: 2017 - Page: 68

Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 24

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 164

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 220

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 220

Newman's Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 44

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 27

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 149

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 252

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 263

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 350

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 347

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Year Published: 1998 - Page: 256

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 234

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 244

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 21

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 26

The Owls of Southern Africa - Author: Alan Kemp and Simon Calburn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 130

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 114

List of South African Birds