owls

Identification : Tawny rufous coloration with dark spots on front. Fluffs up head feathers to give a larger appearance. Large dark brown eyes dominate facial disc.

Diet : Fish with occasional frogs, crabs, mussles and crocodiles.

Habitat : Large trees around lakes and slow moving rivers and thinly distributed in north and east. Uncommon resident.

Breeding : Late summer. Nest in tree hollows. One to Two white eggs hatching at 4-5 weeks and fledgling at 9-10 weeks.

Size : 30-33cm with wingspan 76-91cm

Breeding : Early summer in Western Cape and late summer to early winter elsewhere. Breeds and roosts in any suitable structure. Lays ave 5 plain white eggs hatching after 4 weeks and fledgling at 7 weeks.

Diet : Mainly mice and occasionaly small birds and insects.

Identification : White facial disc edged with black line and has orange eyes. Pale grey with black streaks on front.

Breeding : Early summer. Nest built in tree. Two to four white eggs hatching after 4 weeks and fledgling at 4-5 weeks.

Diet : Hunts while flying mainly preying on mice and rats.

Identification : Plain brown above with paler underparts with distinctive black markings around dark eyes. Small indistinct ear tufts.

Diet : Small mammals, rats, mice and birds.

Habitat : Rocky and mountainous terrain. Found in south,east,and north to Zimbabwe. Rare resident.

Habitat : Common resident found in a variety of habitats throughout the region.

Habitat : Thornveld and dry broad-leafed woodland. Common resident throughout except in south.

Habitat : Widely found in areas of marsh and long grass and uncommon in Namib, Karoo and arid savanna regions. Found alone or in pairs and sometimes roosts in small flocks. Hunts flying low in late afternoon during winter. Resident.

Breeding : Late summer or winter with nest on ground in dense vegetation. Two to five plain white eggs hatching after 4 weeks and fledgling at 5 weeks.

Breeding : Winter. Shallow hollow in ground usually on ledges usually screened by vegetation. Usually two plain white eggs hatching at 4-5 weeks and fledgling at 8-9 weeks.

Owls are the silent nocturnal raptors ranging in size from small to large. The barn and grass owls (family Tytonidae) differ from other owls by their heart shaped face discs. Due to their wing construction they are silent fliers and this enables them to surprise attack their prey at night. Twelve species occur in the southern Africa region.
(families Tytonidae and Strigidae)

Identification :Rufous colouring darker on back lighter in fornt. Dark blotching on breast with bold barring on belly and flanks. Orange eyes and ear tufts with dark lines on edge of facila disc.(Can be confused with Spotted Eagle Owl which is smaller and lighter in coloration)

Identification : Tawny/grey-brown upperparts,white with black spots below. White round facial disk with dark eyes. Has no ear tufts.

Diet : Hunts while in flight for rats,mice,small birds and insects.

Pel's Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli)