Spotted Eagle Owl
Scientific Name: Bubo africanus Afrikaans Name: Gevlekte Ooruil Zulu Name: isiKhovampondo
Occurring in all natural biomes, this is one of the most common and widespread raptors in southern Africa. What look like ears on the top of their heads are in fact just decorative feather tufts. Their actual ear holes are found under the black lines that frame their facial disc.
At the Sanctuary Spotted Eagle Owls can be viewed on display in “Hoot Hollow’ and in the morning flying displays. The owls on display are brothers and sister from the same brood. Spotted eagle owls are normally mottled grey in colour, however, that the one male bird is pale cream in colour. This is termed ‘leucistic’ and refers to the lack of normal feather pigment. This strange colour morph is carried on a recessive gene and is similar to the situation in a lion pride where you get what is referred to as a ‘white lion’.