Birdsong field guide
Grayish Eagle-Owl
Bubo cinerascens
A medium-sized, cryptically colored owl of the African Sahel, distinguished by its dark eyes and fine grayish vermiculations.
What it sounds like
A deep, rhythmic two-note hoot, 'hu-huoo', with the second note emphasizing a slightly higher pitch.
Field notes
- It was historically classified as a subspecies of the Spotted Eagle-Owl but is now recognized as a distinct species.
- Unlike many other eagle-owls, it possesses dark brown to blackish irises rather than yellow or orange eyes.
- The plumage features exceptionally fine, wavy barring called vermiculations, providing elite camouflage against bark and stone.
- It is a generalist predator that consumes a wide variety of prey, including large insects, scorpions, small mammals, and birds.
- Nesting often occurs on the ground, in rock crevices, or within the abandoned stick nests of larger birds like hawks.
Habitat
Dry open savannas, rocky hillsides, and semi-arid scrublands with scattered acacia trees.
Range
Northern sub-Saharan Africa, primarily within the Sahel belt from Senegal to Ethiopia.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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