Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
Observation
I had the pleasure of observing this Eagle Owl on 17 September 2011 while attending the Wildlife Conservation Festival at the John Heinz National Refuge Center in Philadelphia, PA. Though I've seen owls in the past, this is the first time that I've experience one this large and at such a close range. As I watched the owl I couldnt help but notice its fluffy plumage and its beautifully outlined eyes. As I continued to watch, the owl began to flutter its wings in response to a dog that was nearby. The owl began to pace back and forth across its purch and constantly turned its head to keep the dog in its sight. When the dog's owner walked away the owl became calm again.
Questions
Where can the Eagle Owl be found? Which gender is larger? How is the gender of the eagle owl determined?
Scientific Research
Delgado, Maria del mar., Penteriani, Vincent. Gender Determination of Eurasian Eagle Owl by Morphology, Journal of Raptor, Vol. 38, No. 4 (Dec., 2004), pp. 375-377Bubo bubo, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, is one of the largest in the Strigadae owl family. The Eagle Owl can be found in Russia, Scandinavia, Sahara Africa, India and Asia. It typically lives in coniferous deserts and forests. The Eagle Owl is one of the largest birds of prey, though the female is typically larger than the male. The male Eagle Owl can weigh up to 3.2 kg and the female can weigh up to 4.2 kg. Their wingspan ranges between 138 to 200 cm.
The gender of most avian species is determined by their body measurement or size. The Eagle Owl, however is sexually monomorphic (having only one form). Though the female Eagle Owl is larger than the male, the sex is determined by gender specific calls of the bird as oppose to size.
Further Information
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