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Owls (order strigiformes)

  • Serendib scops-owl (Otus thilohoffmanni)

    Otus thilohoffmanni (Serendib scops-owl)

    The astonishing discovery of this tiny owl in 2001 in the southern rain forests of Sri Lanka stunned biologists around the world…

    More about the serendib scops-owl »

    2 photo

    1 video

  • Forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)

    Heteroglaux blewitti (Forest owlet)

    Thought to be extinct for over 100 years until its rediscovery in 1997, the forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti) is one of the rarest and…

    More about the forest owlet »

    8 photos

    0 videos

  • Oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius)

    Phodilus badius (Oriental bay owl)

    This small to medium sized owl is distinctive in its strikingly marked, angular face - a dark V-shaped marking running down the centre of…

    More about the oriental bay owl »

    3 photo

    1 video

  • Sao Tome scops-owl (Otus hartlaubi)

    Otus hartlaubi (Sao Tome scops-owl)

    This small owl, named after the only island it inhabits, has warm reddish-brown plumage with indistinct, fine reddish markings and black…

    More about the sao tome scops-owl »

    5 photos

    0 videos

  • White-faced scops-owl (Otus leucotis)

    Otus leucotis (White-faced scops-owl)

    Information on the white-faced scops-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the white-faced scops-owl »

    9 photos

    0 videos

  • Pharaoh eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus)

    Bubo ascalaphus (Pharaoh eagle-owl)

    One of the smaller eagle-owl species, the pharaoh eagle-owl is an attractive bird of prey with striking, large orange-yellow eyes and…

    More about the pharaoh eagle-owl »

    8 photo

    1 video

  • Vermiculated fishing-owl (Scotopelia bouvieri)

    Scotopelia bouvieri (Vermiculated fishing-owl)

    Information on the vermiculated fishing-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the vermiculated fishing-owl »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • African barred owlet (Glaucidium capense)

    Glaucidium capense (African barred owlet)

    Information on the African barred owlet is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the african barred owlet »

    5 photos

    0 videos

  • Maned owl (Jubula lettii)

    Jubula lettii (Maned owl)

    This highly distinctive owl gets its name from the long, bushy ear-tufts that give it a maned look. These brown-and-white tufts merge with…

    More about the maned owl »

    4 photos

    0 videos

  • Long-eared owl (Asio otus)

    Asio otus (Long-eared owl)

    A common and widespread species, the long-eared owl can be recognised by its orange eyes, prominent ear tufts, and rounded, buff or rufous…

    More about the long-eared owl »

    28 photos

    2 videos

  • Usambara eagle-owl (Bubo vosseleri)

    Bubo vosseleri (Usambara eagle-owl)

    Information on the Usambara eagle-owl is being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the usambara eagle-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Cinnamon screech-owl (Megascops petersoni)

    Megascops petersoni (Cinnamon screech-owl)

    Information on the cinnamon screech-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the cinnamon screech-owl »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Javan scops-owl (Otus angelinae)

    Otus angelinae (Javan scops-owl)

    Information on the Javan scops-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the javan scops-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus)

    Batrachostomus auritus (Large frogmouth)

    Information on the large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the large frogmouth »

    4 photos

    0 videos

  • Philippine eagle-owl (Bubo philippensis)

    Bubo philippensis (Philippine eagle-owl)

    Endemic to the Philippines, this eagle-owl is one of the largest owls in the world, with an impressive wingspan of around 120 centimetres…

    More about the philippine eagle-owl »

    4 photos

    0 videos

  • Gould’s frogmouth (Batrachostomus stellatus)

    Batrachostomus stellatus (Gould’s frogmouth)

    Information on Gould’s frogmouth is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the gould’s frogmouth »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Mantanani scops-owl (Otus mantananensis)

    Otus mantananensis (Mantanani scops-owl)

    Information on the Mantanani scops-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the mantanani scops-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Eastern whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

    Caprimulgus vociferus (Eastern whip-poor-will)

    An enigmatic and extremely elusive species, the eastern whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferous) has strikingly cryptic plumage. As a result…

    More about the eastern whip-poor-will »

    7 photo

    1 video

  • Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

    Ninox novaeseelandiae (Southern boobook)

    The southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae) is easily recognised by its distinctive, bi-syllabic ‘boo-book’ call that earned this species…

    More about the southern boobook »

    18 photos

    0 videos

  • Tawny owl (Strix aluco)

    Strix aluco (Tawny owl)

    The tawny owl (Strix aluco) is the most common and widespread British owl. It is most often heard than seen; it produces a variety of…

    More about the tawny owl »

    36 photos

    13 videos

  • Spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus)

    Bubo africanus (Spotted eagle-owl)

    Despite being one of the smaller eagle-owl species, the spotted eagle owl, nevertheless, possesses an impressive one metre wingspan. The…

    More about the spotted eagle-owl »

    27 photos

    3 videos

  • Southern white-faced owl (Ptilopsis granti)

    Ptilopsis granti (Southern white-faced owl)

    Information on the southern white-faced owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the southern white-faced owl »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Christmas hawk-owl (Ninox natalis)

    Ninox natalis (Christmas hawk-owl)

    Information on the Christmas hawk-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…

    More about the christmas hawk-owl »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

    Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar)

    A crepuscular bird, the nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) has finely patterned tree-bark like cryptic plumage that provides…

    More about the nightjar »

    27 photos

    5 videos

  • Giant eagle-owl (Bubo lacteus)

    Bubo lacteus (Giant eagle-owl)

    As Africa’s largest eagle-owl, the giant eagle-owl is one of the continents most impressive birds of prey. The giant-eagle owl is an…

    More about the giant eagle-owl »

    28 photos

    4 videos

  • Blakiston's fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni)

    Ketupa blakistoni (Blakiston's fish owl)

    Blakiston’s fish owl is a large eagle owl, with a wingspan that can reach up to two metres long. The wings are dark brown with tawny bars…

    More about the blakiston's fish owl »

    14 photos

    2 videos

  • Pemba scops-owl (Otus pembaensis)

    Otus pembaensis (Pemba scops-owl)

    Described as a ‘creature of the night’, the Pemba scops-owl is a mysterious bird, identified with witchcraft by the local inhabitants of its…

    More about the pemba scops-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Russet hawk-owl (Ninox odiosa)

    Ninox odiosa (Russet hawk-owl)

    This small, finely spotted hawk-owl is endemic to New Britain Island in the Pacific Ocean. Despite its limited stature, the russet hawk-owl…

    More about the russet hawk-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Chestnut-backed owlet (Glaucidium castanonotum)

    Glaucidium castanonotum (Chestnut-backed owlet)

    Information on the chestnut-backed owlet is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the chestnut-backed owlet »

    3 photos

    3 videos

  • White-fronted scops-owl (Otus sagittatus)

    Otus sagittatus (White-fronted scops-owl)

    Information on the white-fronted scops-owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the white-fronted scops-owl »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • Puerto Rican nightjar (Caprimulgus noctitherus)

    Caprimulgus noctitherus (Puerto Rican nightjar)

    Information on the Puerto Rican nightjar is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the puerto rican nightjar »

    13 photos

    0 videos

  • Flores scops-owl (Otus alfredi)

    Otus alfredi (Flores scops-owl)

    The diminutive Flores scops-owl (Otus alfredi) is an elusive species, endemic to the island of Flores, Indonesia. Doubt arose over the…

    More about the flores scops-owl »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • Egyptian nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)

    Caprimulgus aegyptius (Egyptian nightjar)

    The scientific name for this species, Caprimulgus, is from the Latin for “goat sucker”, a name that arose from a past belief that this bird…

    More about the egyptian nightjar »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Seychelles scops-owl (Otus insularis)

    Otus insularis (Seychelles scops-owl)

    This small forest owl was declared extinct in 1958, before it was rediscovered in 1960. This oversight could have been due to its cryptic…

    More about the seychelles scops-owl »

    3 photos

    2 videos

  • Cinnabar boobook (Ninox ios)

    Ninox ios (Cinnabar boobook)

    Information on the Cinnabar boobook is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the cinnabar boobook »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Pallid scops-owl (Otus brucei)

    Otus brucei (Pallid scops-owl)

    A relatively small and inconspicuous owl species, the pallid scops-owl’s light greyish-brown, sparsely black-streaked plumage provides good…

    More about the pallid scops-owl »

    4 photos

    0 videos

  • Mindanao scops-owl (Otus mirus)

    Otus mirus (Mindanao scops-owl)

    The Latin name mirus, meaning unusual or striking, is a reference to the Mindanao scops-owl’s bold markings. The owl’s greyish-brown head…

    More about the mindanao scops-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Sulawesi golden owl (Tyto inexspectata)

    Tyto inexspectata (Sulawesi golden owl)

    Information on the Sulawesi golden owl is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the sulawesi golden owl »

    4 photos

    0 videos

  • Sjostedt’s owlet (Glaucidium sjostedti)

    Glaucidium sjostedti (Sjostedt’s owlet)

    Sjostedt’s owlet is a small, attractively coloured owl species found in Central Africa. The head, neck and upper back are brown and densely…

    More about the sjostedt’s owlet »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)

    Bubo bubo (Eurasian eagle-owl)

    Considered to be one of the largest owls in the world, the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is an impressive and majestic bird, with…

    More about the eurasian eagle-owl »

    30 photos

    4 videos

  • Akun eagle-owl (Bubo leucostictus)

    Bubo leucostictus (Akun eagle-owl)

    One of the smaller eagle-owl species, the Akun eagle-owl’s head and upperparts are predominantly dark to reddish-brown, with a patterning of…

    More about the akun eagle-owl »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Snowy owl (Bubo scandiaca)

    Bubo scandiaca (Snowy owl)

    Perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable of all owls, the snowy owl is characterised by its distinctive white plumage, which gives it…

    More about the snowy owl »

    46 photos

    5 videos

  • Pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

    Glaucidium perlatum (Pearl-spotted owlet)

    One of sub-Sahara’s commonest owls, the pearl-spotted owlet is characterised by two black patches with white rims on the back of the head…

    More about the pearl-spotted owlet »

    18 photos

    0 videos

  • Red-chested owlet (Glaucidium tephronotum)

    Glaucidium tephronotum (Red-chested owlet)

    Information on the red-chested owlet is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…

    More about the red-chested owlet »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Sunda nightjar (Caprimulgus concretus)

    Caprimulgus concretus (Sunda nightjar)

    Due to its cryptically patterned plumage, this large-eyed, curious-looking bird is often overlooked by birdwatchers and scientists alike. It…

    More about the sunda nightjar »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Little owl (Athene noctua)

    Athene noctua (Little owl)

    The little owl is a diminutive species, which possesses a plump, round body, bright yellow eyes and spotted plumage. There are thirteen…

    More about the little owl »

    37 photos

    10 videos

  • Barn owl (Tyto alba)

    Tyto alba (Barn owl)

    Ethereal and ghost-like, the barn owl (Tyto alba) has golden-grey coloured upperparts, and pure white underparts. The…

    More about the barn owl »

    42 photos

    14 videos

  • Pel’s fishing-owl (Scotopelia peli)

    Scotopelia peli (Pel’s fishing-owl)

    The largest and most widespread of Africa’s fishing-owls, Pel’s fishing-owl is an unmistakable reddish-brown bird, with a round head, large…

    More about the pel’s fishing-owl »

    11 photos

    5 videos

  • Sokoke scops-owl (Otus ireneae)

    Otus ireneae (Sokoke scops-owl)

    This tiny owl, discovered as late as 1965 in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest in Kenya, occurs in three different morphs, or forms; dark brown…

    More about the sokoke scops-owl »

    10 photo

    1 video

  • Moheli scops-owl (Otus moheliensis)

    Otus moheliensis (Moheli scops-owl)

    Discovered as recently as 1998, the Critically Endangered Moheli scops-owl is only found on a single mountain ridge on the island of Mohéli…

    More about the moheli scops-owl »

    3 photos

    0 videos

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