The Bengal Eagle Owl, also known as
the Indian or Rock Eagle Owl, is a
large horned owl resident on the Indian
Sub-continent. In the past they were
treated as a sub-species of the Eurasian
Eagle Owl. They are common in scrub
and light to medium forests but are
especially seen near rocky places and
spend the day under the shelter of a bush
or rocky projection. They have a deep
resonant booming call that may be heard
at dawn and dusk. With characteristic
"tufts" on their heads, they are splashed
with brown, and grey and have a white
throat patch with small black stripes.
A simple nest is built on bare soil in a
natural recess on the ledge of a cliff,
or under the shelter of a bush on level
ground. The nesting season is November
to April and they lay 3-4 eggs.
