Eurasian eagle-owl

Scientific name: Bubo bubo

The eurasian eagle-ewl is the largest nocturnal bird of prey in Europe. It is a powerful and silent predator, with an extremely soft flight and very keen senses, especially sight and hearing, which allow it to hunt even in complete darkness. It lives in mountainous, hilly and rocky environments, often close to cliffs, gorges and areas little disturbed by humans.

It is easily recognisable by its large size, bright orange eyes and the characteristic ear tufts (the so-called “horns”), which in fact do not serve a hearing function but play a role in communication and expression.

Distribution and habitat

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is distributed across much of Eurasia, from Western Europe to Central Asia. In Italy it is mainly found in the Alps and along the Apennines, with stable populations also in the Dolomites and in protected areas such as the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park.

It is fairly widespread in Europe, and its populations are improving thanks to campaigns to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. It prefers rocky habitats, cliffs, scree slopes, gorges and open mountain areas, often close to forests and grasslands where it can hunt.

Description

It is a large raptor with a wingspan that can exceed 170 cm. The plumage is brown-buff, finely streaked with black, providing excellent camouflage against rocky backgrounds. The eyes are bright orange, and the wings are broad and rounded, well adapted for slow and silent flight. The Eurasian eagle-owl can live up to 20 years.

Weight

Female: 2.2–3.0 kg (4.9–6.6 lb)
Male: 1.7–2.1 kg (3.7–4.6 lb)

Behaviour

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is mainly nocturnal and territorial. It nests on rocky ledges, in cavities or sometimes directly on the ground, often in hard-to-reach areas such as gorges and cliff faces, including places like the gorges and waterfalls along the Fanes area, where some nesting sites of the species are known.

It is monogamous and reaches reproductive maturity at around two years of age. Courtship flights may begin as early as October, while breeding mainly takes place in February and March.
The female lays two or three eggs, which she incubates for about 34 days in a shallow depression about 30 cm in diameter. During the rearing of the chicks, the male also hunts during the day, not only at dusk and during the night as it usually does. After four to five weeks the young leave the nest and remain nearby for several more weeks while still being cared for, before eventually dispersing to establish their own territories.

Interspecific relationships

As an adult, it has very few natural predators. However, chicks can occasionally be taken by large birds of prey such as the golden eagle. The main threats come from humans: disturbance at nesting sites, collisions or contact with power lines, and habitat loss.

It is an extremely versatile predator and feeds on a wide variety of animals, including small mammals such as marmots, as well as birds like the rock ptarmigan and the capercaillie.

The call of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl

“Uuuh… uuuh…” — this is the deep call of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl.
Its vocalisation is a low, powerful and far-carrying sound that can be heard over several kilometres on calm nights. It is mainly given by the male during the breeding season to mark its territory and attract the female, but also to keep contact with the partner once the pair is formed.

The call is slow, rhythmic and solemn, and it contributes to the nocturnal and mysterious atmosphere that has made the eagle-owl the subject of legends and superstitions in many cultures.

The call of the eagle-owl

Curiosities and and folklore

Since ancient times the Eurasian Eagle-Owl has been associated with the night, mystery and wisdom, but also with superstitions linked to death and the afterlife. In reality, it is an important indicator of the environmental quality of the mountainous areas in which it lives.

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Scientific classification of the eagle-owl

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