Species · GBIF taxon 5959092
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Bubo buboAlso known as Eagle-Owl, Northern Eagle-Owl, European Eagle-Owl
Eurasian eagle-owls are among the largest and most powerful owls in the world, easily recognized by their prominent ear tufts and piercing orange eyes. These formidable nocturnal predators hunt a vast array of prey, from small rodents to hares and even young deer, using silent flight to ambush targets. They typically nest on rocky cliffs or steep hillsides, maintaining large territories that they defend with deep, resonant hooting.
NocturnalApex PredatorRaptor
Licensed referenceMartin Mecnarowski (http://www.photomecan.eu/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Brown Hares
- Hedgehogs
- Mallards
Predators
- Golden Eagle
- Gray Wolf (nestlings)
- Eurasian Lynx (nestlings)
ThreatsElectrocution from power lines, vehicle collisions, secondary poisoning, and habitat loss
HabitatsConiferous forests, rocky cliffs, mountain regions, steppes, and semi-deserts
Life span10 to 20 years in the wild, up to 60 years in captivity
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesBubo bubo
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering powerful talon strikes if defending a nest; maintain a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with massive, powerful talons capable of crushing bone and inflicting deep puncture wounds.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by its immense size, prominent ear tufts, and striking bright orange eyes.
- What to do
- Never approach a nesting site or an injured owl; contact local wildlife rehabilitators instead.
- What to notice
- Nests are typically simple scrapes on rocky cliff ledges, steep slopes, or abandoned raptor nests.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from active nests and avoid using playback calls.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Listen for the deep, resonant 'ooh-hu' territorial hooting at dusk and dawn.
- Scan rocky ledges: Look for whitewash or pellets on cliff faces where they prefer to roost.
- Keep your distance: Avoid approaching active nest sites to prevent disturbing breeding pairs.
Competitor Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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