Indian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis)

The Indian eagle-owl, also called the rock eagle-owl or Bengal eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis), is a species of large horned owl restricted to the Indian Subcontinent.

They are found in hilly and rocky scrub forests, and are usually seen in pairs. They have a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk.

The average size a a male bird is as follows:

Length 50-56 cm.

Wing length 358-433mm.

Tail length 185-227mm.

Weight 1100g

Females bird are larger than the males but this gives you a rough idea of size.

They are seen in scrub and light to medium forests but are especially seen near rocky places within the mainland of the Indian Subcontinent south of the Himalayas and below 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) elevation. Humid evergreen forest and extremely arid areas are avoided. Bush covered rocky hillocks and ravines, and steep banks of rivers and streams are favourite haunts. It spends the day under the shelter of a bush or rocky projection, or in a large mango or similar thickly.

The deep resonant two note calls are characteristic and males deliver these "long calls" mainly at dusk during the breeding season. The peak calling intensity is noticed in February. Young birds produce clicks, hisses and open up their wings to appear larger than they are. Nesting adults will fly in zig zag patterns and mob any potential predators (including humans) who approach the nest.

Their diet through much of the year consists of rodents,in the wild buttowards winter time Birds Partridge and Dove and other birds of this size are taken.

There nesting season is November to April. The eggs number three to four and are creamy white, broad roundish ovals with a smooth texture. They are laid on bare soil in a natural recess in an earth bank, on the ledge of a cliff, or under the shelter of a bush on level ground. The nest site is reused each year.

The eggs hatch after about 33 days and the chicks are dependent on their parents for nearly six months.A lot of animals, just like humans, take years to attain the mature size of adults. Indian eagle owls, on the other hand, are pretty speedy in the physical development department. By the time they're around 10 weeks in age, they usually are adult-sized, though they're not mature yet.

This large owl with the distinctive face, large forward-facing eyes, horns and deep resonant call is associated with a number of superstitions. Like many other large owls, these are considered birds of ill omen. Their deep haunting calls if delivered from atop a house are considered to forebode the death of an occupant.

The Photographs in this Blog our of Sally Dickinsons young Indian Rock Owl Tyke. In the First Photo Tyke is about 6 weeks old .Second Photo was Tyke at 5 weeks old Laying down.

Couple of weeks ago we had to visit our local Locksmith at "The Lock Shop Whittelsey" and we took Tyke along to meet Rob.

Tyke also came out for a day with our 2 Harris Hawks in Hendon to see how they do the job of Pest Control. In the photo below he met one of the residents.

Tyke is now 12 weeks old and in these last 2 photos you can see the change from 4 weeks old to now as of the 10/9/2018

4 weeks old

12 weeks old