The African Spotted Eagle Owl is a
medium sized Horned and one of the
smallest of the Eagle owls. Prior to
1999 the Spotted Eagle Owl was classed
as a subspecies of the Vermiculated
Eagle Owl but is now classed as a
separate species. They are nocturnal
hunters spending the day concealed in
trees, rockledges or abandoned
burrows. Spotted EagleOwls do not avoid
populated areas. They will often hunt
near roads and are often struck by
vehicles. Weighing upto 850g, the facial
disk is off white to pale ochre and the
eyes are yellow. They have prominent
ear tufts and the upper body is dusky
brown with lower parts off white with
brown bars. Nesting on the ground,
the female lays 2 - 4 eggs and she does
all the incubation that lasts
approximately thirty two days.
