Name

Bubo bubo

Eurasian eagle owl

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Strigiformes

Family: Strigidae

Genus: Bubo

Species: bubo

Habitat

Terrestrial. In mountainous areas with rocky or clayey cliffs and wooded areas.

Feeding

Predator mainly of medium-sized mammals (rabbits, rats, hares) and medium-sized birds (pigeons, partridges, corvids).

Distribution

Palaearctic, being absent only from North Africa and a narrow strip of northern Europe and Asia. In Spain it is irregularly distributed, being more frequent in the mountains of the centre, south and Mediterranean coast and absent from the more rainy Cantabrian strip.

Conservation status

Not threatened

Additional information

It is the largest nocturnal bird of prey in our fauna (60-70 cm). Compact body and short legs. Two very visible "ears" formed by feathers on the face protrude above the head, breaking up its rounded silhouette. Very mottled and barred brown plumage which helps it to camouflage itself. Large orange eyes. Often detected by its voice at dusk, a deep "owl" heard from a great distance. Sedentary.