| Brown Fish Owl | |
| |
| Names | |
| Common Name: | Brown Fish Owl |
| Scientific Name: | Ketupa zeylonensis |
| Appearance | |
| A large brown owl with small ear tufts | |
| Behavior | |
| It is specially adapted to catch fish | |
The Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) is a species of owl that belongs to the family Strigidae (typical owls).
Information[]
Physical Description[]
The Brown Fish Owl is a fairly large owl, with prominent horizontal "ear" tufts, and long legs.
Their size is between 19-24 in (48-61 cm), and their weight between 2.4 to 5.5 lb (1.1 to 2.5 kg), with females being larger and heavier, but otherwise the sexes do not differ. Their wingspan ranges from 49-55 in (125-140 cm).
The upper-parts are reddish brown and heavily streaked with black or dark brown. The underparts are buff to whitish, with dark streaks and finer brown barring. The throat is white and can be conspicuously puffed, while the facial disk is indistinct. The irides are yellow, the featherless feet a duller yellow, and the beak is dark. The beak is between the eyes rather than below, giving it a morose expression. Unlike other owls, it lacks the fringes on its primaries that enable silent flight.
Its calls are described as a deep tu-hoo-hoo or a soft huphuphuphuphuphup or a loud huhuhuhuhuhuhu.
Ecology[]
This species is an all-year resident throughout most tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and southeastern China; it is also found in Sri Lanka. West of its main range, it is patchily distributed to the Levant (possibly extinct) and southern Asia Minor (recently rediscovered). It inhabits mainly the lowlands, in well-wooded habitat, from open woodland to dense forest as well as in plantations; in the Himalayas foothills it ranges into submontane forest up to 1,500 meters ASL or so but not higher. Western birds are found in semiarid landscape and may breed in oases in arid regions. Regardless of habitat, it rarely strays far from larger bodies of water such as rivers and lakes.
This species is chiefly nocturnal, but it can often be found by the small birds that mob it while it is roosting in a tree.
Diet[]
It feeds mainly on fish, frogs and crustaceans, but will also take birds, rodents, reptiles, and large beetles. If hungry, Brown Fish Owls will scavenge carrion. They hunt by watching prey from a perch overlooking the water, like a stump or rock on the edge or middle of a stream. They will often fly up and down, sometimes almost skimming the water. Fish are scooped up from near the surface. Rough texture under their toes allow them to grasp slippery fish.
Reproduction[]
Brown Fish Owls breed from November to March. The clutch is one or two eggs, often placed in an old stick nest of other birds, otherwise in a rock crevice near water, or an abandoned building. Incubation is 38 days or somewhat less, and the young fledge after about 7 weeks.
The Brown Fish Owl is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. Being a large predatory bird, it is only rarely found at a high population density. Habitat destruction will eventually cause the species to desert a region, and probably because of this it seems to be extinct as a breeding bird in Israel nowadays.
Significant Brown Fish-owls[]
History[]
The Siege[]
Simon the Glauxian Brother was on a pilgrimage, staying in the hollow of a sycamore in Ambala. He saw Kludd plunge into a nearby pond and rescued him, grabbing him in his talons and taking him back to the tree hollow. After setting Kludd on a nest of down and moss, Simon went to gather leeches. He thought it odd how the Barn Owl refused to be preened. Looking after Kludd while he slept for two days, when Kludd awoke, he was annoyed at how an owl from the Northern Kingdoms could be so peaceful. Kludd demanded red meat, and Simon gladly obliged, even if he was used to hunting fish. Simon would bring back vole, squirrel, and rat. Mist had been observing the entire thing, and was about to leave, when a terrible shriek broke the silence. Poor Simon, brutally murdered by Kludd, fell to the forest floor, with one wing ripped off, and his head nearly split open.
Some time later, the Chaw of Chaws stop at the same tree, and a young Spotted Owl named Hortense warns them that the tree is haunted by Simon's Scroom.
The Rise of a Legend[]
On a trip to Dark Fowl Island, Juhani is mentioned to be a blacksmith who has his forge, which smells of fish oil and well-seasoned seaweed, set up down by the port. He also had an Elf Owl assistant named Rolf.
A Brown Fish Owl named Colonel Solsten Ketupa Zeylonensis was a flight formation instructor. He explained about the Frost Beaks training with ice splinters.
Octavia makes note that all Fish Owls are loyal to the Kielian League.
Trivia[]
- There are three other owl species called Fish Owls, and three species called Fishing Owls, but only the Brown Fish Owl is ever specifically named in the books.
- Its scientific name Ketupa zeylonensis means "fish owl from Sri Lanka", zeylonensis being a Latinized version of Ceylon (the former name of Sri Lanka).
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