The spot-bellied eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis), also known as the forest eagle-owl is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance. It has a presence of two outwardly slanting erect black and white 'horn' like structures or ear tufts. The overall plumage of these spot-bellied eagle-owl species is dark brown on the head, upper wings and upperparts. The throat and the underparts are pale brown. The upperparts are barred and mottled pale brown. The flanks have black and white horizontal stripes. The breast, belly and undertail have broad dark brown spots. The ear-tufts are long and slanting, having feathers of different sizes. The facial disc is pale buff. The legs and feet are feathered except for the terminal digits of the toes. The nostrils are round. The beak is curved and yellowish. The long curved talons are steel gray. The irises are dark brown. The juveniles are much paler. The call of spot-bellied owl is a deep, booming "hoo hoo" sound. They also make loud screaming sound.
🗒 Synonyms
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🗒 Common Names
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📚 Overview
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
📚 Natural History
Reproduction
The breeding season of the spot-bellied eagle-owl species is in February and March in Himalayan region. In Sri Lanka, the breeding season is in April and May. The laying season is in December and January in southern India. These spot-bellied owl species normally nest in large tree cavities. There are known to make use of abandoned large stick-nests of eagles, vultures or kites. In some rare cases, they have been observed to nest in sheltered rock crevices and caves. The typical spot-bellied owl clutch contains one white, ovoid, smooth surfaced egg. Both the parents have been observed to incubate the egg. Perhaps, the male incubates in short spells during the absence of the female. These eagle-owls are highly aggressive in defense of their nests, attacking and seriously injuring intruders.
Migration
The spot-bellied eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis) is a non-migratory resident bird. Post breeding, the spot-bellied eagle-owl juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range. Birds in high mountain forests may descend to lower levels in winter.
Size
Relative Size (Birds)
Kite±
The spot-bellied eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis) measures about 50 to 65 cm in length and weighs 1.3 to 1.7 Kg. The ear-tufts of the spot-bellied eagle-owl measure up to 63 to 76 mm (2.5 to 3.0 in) in length (Legge, W. (1886) A History of Birds of Ceylon, Volume 2). This species typically measures 425 to 477 mm (16.7 to 18.8 in) in wing chord length, 230 to 250 mm (9.1 to 9.8 in) in tail length, 60 to 62 mm (2.4 to 2.4 in) in tarsal length and 52 to 54 mm (2.0 to 2.1 in) in culmen length (Harding, W. A., & Percy Moore, J. (1927). The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma).
Trophic Strategy
The diet of these spot-bellied eagle-owl species is mostly birds. Several species of mammals (of manageable size), a variety of birds (especially pheasants), reptiles (including large monitor lizards), amphibians and fish are their primary food. They have been observed to feed on the carcasses of goats and tigers.
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📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
They occurs in dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
The spot-bellied eagle-owl or the Forest Eagle-Owl species generally occurs in subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, foothill forests, moist deciduous forests, subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, dense evergreen forests and montane wet temperate forests.
Description
Global Distribution
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Distribution In India
Submontane tracts and foothills up to 200m above msl in the Himalayas from Kumaon eastwards. Western Ghats in Peninsula from 16°N latitude to western Karnataka and Kerala, Shevroy Hills, Eastern Ghats
Distribution In Assam
Assam (Recorded in Barail range of Cachar and Dima Hasao district as well as Karbi Anglong district. Also in duars and foothills of N bank of Brahmaputra river)
These spot-bellied eagle-owl species are distributed in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The subspecies Bubo nipelnsis blighi is distributed in Sri Lanka. The nominate subspecies of spot-bellied owl Bubo nipalensis nipalensis is distributed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Local Distribution
In India, the Forest Eagle-Owl species are distributed in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, etc.
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📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Trends
Current Population Trend of the Forest Eagle-owl is stable.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Category
Least Concern
IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1
Legislation
CITES Status
Appendix II
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
📚 Information Listing
References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- BirdLife International. 2016. Bubo nipalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22688970A93212310. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688970A93212310.en
- Spot-bellied eagle-owl, Birds of India | Bird World - https://indianbirds.thedynamicnature.com/2017/03/spot-bellied-eagle-owl-bubo-nipalensis.html
Information Listing > References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- BirdLife International. 2016. Bubo nipalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22688970A93212310. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688970A93212310.en
- Spot-bellied eagle-owl, Birds of India | Bird World - https://indianbirds.thedynamicnature.com/2017/03/spot-bellied-eagle-owl-bubo-nipalensis.html
A reassessment of the avian species diversity in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, after the Vernay Survey
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Journal of Threatened TaxaA comparative study of the diet of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) from two distinct habitats in the Tamil Nadu - Puducherry area, southern India
Jo
Journal of Threatened TaxaCEPF Western Ghats Special Series: Birds of Meghamalai Landscape, southern Western Ghats, India
Jo
Journal of Threatened TaxaNo Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Bubo |
| Species | Bubo nipalensis Hodgson 1836 |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
