Eagle Owl

Eagle Owl
Names
Common Name:	Eagle Owl
Scientific Name:	Bubo bubo
Appearance
Ranging from dark brown to pale gray, orange eyes, ear tufts, very large owl
Behavior
Able to attack and kill large prey beyond the capacity of most owls

Eagle Owls are among the largest of the owl species. Larger than Snowy Owls, but filling a similar ecological niche as Great Horned Owls.

Information

Description

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is smaller than a golden eagle, but larger than a Snowy Owl. They range in length from 22-30 in (56-75 cm), with a typical wingspan of 52-74 in (131–188 cm), with the largest specimens possibly attaining 79 in (200 cm). Although Great Gray Owls can be longer, Eagle-Owls can weigh more than twice as much, with females weighing from 3.9 to 10.1 lb (1.75 to 4.6 kg), and males from 2.6 to 7.1 lb (1.2 to 3.2 kg). It has distinctive orange eyes.

Its call is a deep, monotonous "oo-hu" with the female's call being slightly higher.

The Indian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis), also called the Bengal Eagle-Owl or Rock Eagle-Owl, and the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (Bubo ascalaphus) were once treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

The Indian Eagle-Owl ranges between 20-26 in (50-56 cm) and a wingspan up to 60 in (150 cm). The Pharaoh Eagle-Owl is smaller at 16-20 in (45-50 cm) and a wingspan between 39-55 in (100-140 cm).

Ecology

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is widely distributed across Europe and Asia. It can inhabit a wide range of habitats, from northern coniferous forests to the edge of vast deserts, but it prefers mountainous areas. The only real predator of adults are eagles.

The Indian Eagle-Owl is found in scrublands, forests, and rocky areas of the Indian Subcontinent.

The Pharaoh Eagle-Owl is found in barren plains and deserts of northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East.

In series, they've only appeared in the Northern Kingdoms.

Diet

It is nocturnal, with activity focused in the few hours after sunset, and the last few hours before sunrise. Its diet is more diverse than any other owl. Its main prey depends on the area, but it's usually rats, voles, hedgehogs, rabbits, and hares. However, it will eat almost anything that moves, from beetles to deer fawns. They may hunt in forests, but prefer open areas. They will take prey on the ground or in flight.

Reproduction

They maintain a single territory most of their adult lives, and will defend it against interlopers. They nest in cliffsides, crevices, and caves. The egg clutch is usually one or two.

In the wild they may live to 20 years, while in captivity they may live more than 60 years.

Trivia

• There are sixteen different species of eagle-owls, but when mentioned in the books, they are only ever referred to as Eagle Owls. However, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (the species detailed here) is occasionally abbreviated to just Eagle-Owl. Given their noted large size, it's logical to assume that any time an Eagle Owl is mentioned, it's a Eurasian Eagle-Owl.
• The species name of the Indian Eagle-Owl bengalensis refers to the Bengal region of the Indian Subcontinent, where the species was first observed.
• The species name of the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl ascalaphus is derived from Ascalaphus, a figure from Greek mythology who witnessed a crime in the underworld and was transformed into an owl.

Notable Eagle Owls

• Hot Beak
• Skellig's Subordinates

History

The Rise of a Legend

At a grog tree, a pair of suspicious looking Eagle Owls arrived and sat away from everyone else. When Orf has his drink spiked by Skellig and tries to fly off, they follow him, and two more Eagle Owls arrive to make a transport vacuum. They take him to the far side of Elsemere Island, but want to take him to Stormfast Island. Thora tells Lyze, Moss, and Lil of the owlnapping, and that there were three more Eagle Owls flying around the Academy headquarters and the parliament hollow, so they would know quickly if the cadets rallied a squadron. The team launches an attack, with Orf springing to life and blinding one of the Eagle Owls. One Eagle Owl, who only had on one battle claw attacked with a flail, but missed Lil and hit Skellig. Orf grabbed the flail, and the Eagle Owl trio retreated. With the timely arrival by Loki and Blix, they launched an ice splinter into the heart of another of the Eagle Owls.

Eagle Owls in the Frost Beaks division were being trained to reload larger weapons.

Moss is dispatched to the ice cliff above Hrath'ghar Glacier to recruit snow leopards, as well as other large, powerful owls: Eagle Owls, Northern Hawk Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Great Gray Owls. Later at the secret training ground, Moss manages to recruit two Great Horneds, two Great Grays, and an Eagle Owl. The Great Horneds are slipgizzles, and the one with half a beak flies off, only to come back with a group of at least eight owls and a peregrine falcon. Lyze manages to take out one of the enemy Eagle Owls with a spike launcher. After the battle, the Eagle Owl working with Moss moves with the rest of Moss's team to a new black site to complete their training.

Octavia mentions that all Fish Owls were loyal to the Kielian League, so the Ice Talon League had to rely on Eagle Owls, who weren't as capable with smaller fish.

During the Battle of the Ice Claws, after Lyze goes yeep, an Eagle Owl grabs him by the talon before he hits the water.

Gallery