Pel's Fishing-owl
Encyclopedia
The Pel's Fishing Owl is a large species of owl
in the Strigidae family. It feeds nocturnally
on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees. Though two eggs are laid, only one chick is raised.
It is found throughout a large part of sub-Saharan Africa
, but it is generally rather local, uncommon and absent from drier regions. Adults are rich ginger-rufous
with dense dark bars to the upperparts and scaling to the underparts. The two related fishing owls are smaller and lack the dark barring and scaling (though they do have dark streaks below). Juveniles are more uniform buff
than adults. Unlike the eagle-owls, the ear tufts of the Pel's Fishing Owl are barely visible, giving it a very round-headed appearance.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
in the Strigidae family. It feeds nocturnally
Nocturnal animal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal"....
on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees. Though two eggs are laid, only one chick is raised.
It is found throughout a large part of sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, but it is generally rather local, uncommon and absent from drier regions. Adults are rich ginger-rufous
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
with dense dark bars to the upperparts and scaling to the underparts. The two related fishing owls are smaller and lack the dark barring and scaling (though they do have dark streaks below). Juveniles are more uniform buff
Buff (colour)
Buff is a pale yellow-brown colour that got its name from the colour of buff leather.Displayed on the right is the colour buff.EtymologyAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, buff as a descriptor of a colour was first used in the London Gazette of 1686, describing a uniform to be "A Red Coat...
than adults. Unlike the eagle-owls, the ear tufts of the Pel's Fishing Owl are barely visible, giving it a very round-headed appearance.