Do you need to know the several types of owls in South Africa?
If that’s the case, you may have come to the proper place. Within the article beneath, I’ve listed the owls you possibly can anticipate to see. For every species, you’ll discover out how one can establish every owl accurately, together with footage, fascinating info, and RANGE MAPS!
The temptation to intersperse this whole article with puns is nearly overwhelming. I may simply wing it and beak-off about these birds all day lengthy, however I actually do give a hoot, and shortly you’ll be talon me to cease it. Okay, cool down as a result of that’s owl you get. ????
#1. African Grass Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- This species has a heart-shaped facial disk in white or cream with a darkish rim. They’ve black eyes.
- The neck is yellow with darkish spots, and the again and wings are darkish brown or black with gentle spots.
- Adults are 15 to 17 inches (38 to 43 cm) tall and have a wingspan of 11.1 to 13.6 inches (28 to 34 cm).
Search for this species of owl in jap South Africa in savannas and grasslands.
Because the identify suggests, the African Grass Owl spends time in tall grass and weeds.
This species has a really ingenious approach of making shelter. As an alternative of discovering bushes to perch in, they trample grass and kind interconnected tunnels. Then, feminine African Grass owls make their nests on the finish of the tunnels.
The eating regimen of the African Grass Owl is primarily made up of rodents and small mammals. However, in addition they prey on different small birds, bugs, or bats. These stealthy hunters fly near the bottom, quietly trying to find prey and sneaking up on it.
You’ll have issue recognizing an African Grass Owl as a result of this species is nocturnal, preferring to hunt at evening and keep in its grassy shelter in the course of the day. Nonetheless, if you do occur to seek out one, you’ll discover that this species seems remarkably just like the barn owl!
#2. Barn Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- They’ve a heart-shaped, white facial disk with a tawny brown define. Their eyes are black.
- The pinnacle, again, and tail are yellowish-brown with some white or ashy gray spots, and the underparts are white.
- Adults are 17.3 inches (44 cm) tall, with a wingspan of 9 to 12.6 inches (23 to 32 cm).
Though Barn Owns usually roost in hole bushes, they’re typically present in caves, wells, and even secluded buildings. They’re nocturnal, so wherever that gives a darkish, quiet house for this species to relaxation is a probable spot for a roost.
Barn Owls eat small rodents, bugs, child rabbits, small birds, frogs, lizards, and bats. They fly low over the bottom, looking for prey with their glorious evening imaginative and prescient, and quietly seize their meal from the bottom.
Curiously, wild Barn Owls in South Africa have a reasonably quick life span of round two years. However, when stored in captivity, this species can dwell as much as 20 years. Though most animals dwell longer in captivity resulting from safety from predators and regular feeding, the Barn Owl takes it to a brand new stage!
Whereas this species is most lively at evening, they sometimes hunt simply after dawn or earlier than sundown. As an alternative of looking for one by sight, pay attention for its noises which might be assorted and distinctive. They convey with drawn-out screeches, distinct repetitive twittering, or low croaks. The Barn owl can even hiss or rasp when stunned.
#3. African Scops Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- This species has a much less outlined facial disk, pronounced ear tufts, and yellow eyes.
- The physique is gray and brown, with irregular pale white or pink markings that resemble tree bark.
- Adults are 6.7 inches (17 cm) tall with a wingspan of roughly 18 inches (46 cm).
The African Scops Owl lives in wooded areas and forests. They hunt and fly at evening and roost in the course of the day in bushes. This species has glorious camouflage, particularly whereas sleeping. They perch on branches with their eyes closed and their ear tufts perked, which makes them appear to be an extension of the tree department!
This species significantly likes consuming bugs like beetles, mosquitos, and flies. They hunt by scanning from a tree and swooping down to gather prey on the bottom. Nonetheless, they’ll hawk for flying bugs, which means they will scoop them proper out of the air whereas in flight!
The African Scops Owl has one of the vital distinctive calls of any owl in South Africa.
It emits a monotonous, distinctive “prrrp” as a method of communication.
#4. Southern White-faced Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- They’ve a white facial disk with a black define, small black ear tufts, and vivid orange eyes.
- The higher elements of its physique are gray or brown with white spots, and the underparts are principally white with some darker streaks.
- Adults are 8 to 11 inches (20 to twenty-eight cm) tall with a wingspan of seven.5 to eight.11 inches (19 to 21 cm).
Southern White-faced Owls want to dwell in dry woods and grasslands, the place they hunt for big bugs, reptiles, and small mammals.
This is likely one of the solely owls in South Africa that doesn’t make its personal nest. As an alternative, it makes use of different birds’ empty, abandoned nests to nest and breed. Bigger owls and different birds of prey that abandon their nests are seemingly making room for Southern White-faced Owls to maneuver in!
Hear for the Southern White-faced Owl’s name, which is a sequence of fast, trilling hoots. It calls at evening and is repeated a number of occasions. Through the breeding season, it’s frequent for breeding pairs to sing collectively, often with fast, staccato notes adopted by an extended, higher-pitched “hoot.”
Curiously, this owl doesn’t migrate to keep away from chilly climate. As an alternative, when the climate cools, they enhance their resting metabolism by round 45%, which helps them keep physique temperature and regulate to the chilly local weather.
#5. Cape Eagle Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- The facial disk is brown and white with a darkish brown define, small ear tufts, and orange or yellow eyes.
- This species is darkish brown total, with gentle brown and white mottling.
- Adults are 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) lengthy with a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches (33 to 43 cm).
The Cape Eagle Owl lives in mountainous forests and grasslands with rocky outcrops. They use rocks to construct their roosting and nesting websites, so they’re most certainly to be seen round caves and crevices.
Like most owls in South Africa, Cape Eagle Owls are nocturnal.
Within the daytime, they roost in rocky areas close to bushes or sometimes within the crowns of bushes. Through the breeding season, women and men roost collectively.
Though it solely takes 40 days for younger Cape Eagle Owls to be totally grown, they typically stay within the nest for as much as six months whereas they study to fly and hunt!
Each female and male Cape Eagle Owls have a powerful hoot with a faint ending, however the feminine’s music is larger in pitch. When confused or alarmed, they modify their tune to a shorter, repetitive sound, just like canine barking.
#6. Noticed Eagle Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- Yellow eyes and large ear tufts accent the pale brown facial disk.
- Their coloring is darkish brown on the higher physique with white and brown underparts.
- Adults are about 18 inches (46 cm) lengthy with a wingspan of 39 to 55 inches (99 to 140 cm).
Search for Noticed Eagle Owls in South Africa in rocky areas, bushy grasslands, or tree crowns. They’re additionally quite common in city areas near human populations.
This species eats all kinds of prey, together with birds, bugs, small mammals, rodents, and reptiles. If the prey is sufficiently small, the Noticed Eagle Owl will swallow it complete. If not, it tears it into items. Throughout nesting durations, male Noticed Eagle Owls grow to be so dedicated to the offspring that they create practically all their prey again to the nest. They’ve been recognized to starve of their effort to supply sufficient meals!
Noticed Eagle Owls name to 1 one other with hooting noises. Often, the male hoots twice, whereas the feminine hoots 3 times. Adults and juveniles will hiss and snap their beaks below duress. Owlets could make rasping noises when hungry, and the mother and father can acknowledge the rasping of their very own hatchlings.
#7. Verreaux’s Eagle Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- The facial disk is gentle gray with robust black borders. They’ve small ear tufts and brown eyes with uncommon, pale pink eyelids.
- Primarily grey, with some brown elements on the underside. Their again is brown with white spots on the shoulders.
- Adults develop as much as 26 inches (66 cm) in size with a wingspan of 4 toes 7 inches (as much as 140 cm).
The Verreaux’s Eagle Owl is one among just a few owls in South Africa with no pure predators!
They hunt small mammals like hedgehogs, rodents, bugs, birds, and reptiles.
Due to its nocturnal habits, it may be exhausting to identify a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl. They roost in mature bushes with massive branches and dense foliage. As well as, they’ve glorious camouflage. Their feathers are barred in a approach that makes them seem blurry, and so they mix in effortlessly with the leaves.
Members of this species kind tight-knit social circles of two mother and father and their offspring. They’re fairly territorial and infrequently battle different people of the species for territory. Regardless of these shut household ties, one of many hatchlings is usually ignored in favor of the older, bigger younger, and infrequently the smaller chick dies of hunger.
#8. Pearl-spotted Owlet
Figuring out Traits:
- The facial disc is brown and white, with yellow eyes and a yellow beak.
- The higher physique is brown with white spots and two darkish spots outlined in white kind false “eyes” on the again of its head.
- Adults are 6.6 to eight.3 inches (17 to 21 cm) lengthy with a wing size of 4 to 4.7 inches (10-12 cm).
The tiny Pearl-spotted Owlet is the smallest owl in South Africa.
Even the fully-grown adults are referred to as owlets due to how little they’re!
This species is lively all through the day and at evening however prefers to hunt at nighttime. Through the day, the Pearl-spotted Owlet roosts in small bushes and infrequently bathes in open water. You’re more likely to see one splashing round in a lake, stream, or massive pond.
The Pearl-spotted Owlet often hunts grasshoppers and crickets. Nonetheless, in addition they hunt lizards, small rodents, bats, snakes, or different small birds if these prey species can be found.
They provide a loud sequence of quick shrills that begin gradual after which speed up in tempo and pitch. In the direction of the tip of the shrill, the tempo and the pitch decrease once more, with the final two shrills being longer. When distressed, Pearl-spotted Owlets alert their mates by comfortable whistles and peeps.
#9. African Barred Owlet
Figuring out Traits:
- The pinnacle is spherical with no outlined facial disk, and the eyes, beak, and legs are pale yellow.
- This species is grayish-brown on high, with a white chest noticed with brown dots.
- Adults are 6.7 inches (17 cm) lengthy, with a wingspan of round 16 inches (41 cm).
The African Barred Owlet’s most well-liked habitat is mature forests and woodland. They’re lively in the course of the day and the evening. Through the day, the African Barred Owlets roost in pure tree holes and conceal from different birds. Nonetheless, they like to hunt at evening, scanning the bottom from a perch and snatching small mammals, reptiles, and bugs.
This species could be very territorial, particularly in the course of the breeding interval. They sing to promote their territory and can swoop down on intruders, trying to intimidate them regardless of their small measurement.
The African Barred Owlet communicates by a sequence of quick, evenly-pitched, purring notes. It calls out throughout nightfall, daybreak, and thru the evening.
#10. African Wooden Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- This species has a rounded head, darkish eyes, and white eyebrows. The facial disc is white with a darkish brown define. The beak is yellow.
- The coloring is gentle brown above, and the underparts are white with brown spots.
- Adults are 12 to 13.8 inches (30 to 35 cm) lengthy with a wingspan of 8.6 to 10.6 inches (22 to 27 cm).
African Wooden Owls, additionally referred to as Woodford’s owls, dwell in forests and woodland areas. They’re nocturnal, and so they roost in pairs within the dense foliage of bushes. Nonetheless, due to its nighttime exercise and camouflage, you’d have a tough time discovering one among these medium-sized owls in South Africa.
Their mating interval is from July to October, and the feminine lays 1 to three eggs in a hole tree. The incubation begins as quickly as the primary egg is laid, so the oldest, greatest hatchling generally kills the youthful siblings if there’s a meals scarcity. Hatchlings generally keep within the nest with their mother and father till the subsequent breeding season.
Curiously, African Wooden Owls sing duets between women and men, often in breeding pairs. The male calls with clear, quick hoots, and the feminine responds in a better pitch however with a extra relaxed, slower name.
#11. Marsh Owl
Figuring out Traits:
- This species has a pumpkin-shaped facial disk with a brown rim, brown eyes, and practically absent ear tufts.
- The coloring on the wings is darkish brown, barred with cream or white, and tawny on the chest and stomach.
- Adults are 12 to fifteen inches (30 to 38 cm) lengthy with a wingspan of 11 to fifteen inches (28 to 38 cm).
True to its identify, the Marsh Owl lives primarily in marshlands. Nonetheless, it will also be present in open grassland and quick scrub. They abandon their nests and transfer to wetter areas if their habitat will get very dry.
Marsh Owls nest on the bottom on the finish of the wet season. They’re monogamous and mate for all times. Despite the fact that they are often considerably territorial, it’s common for nesting people to dwell in larger colonies, shut to one another.
Despite the fact that Marsh Owls are primarily nocturnal, they will also be seen at nightfall and daybreak. Search for them whereas they hunt, both alone or in pairs. Their eating regimen consists of small rodents, bugs, and reptiles which they discover by flying low over the grass.
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