Spotted Eagle-Owl

Afrikaans name: Gevlekte ooruil

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bubo africanus

The Spotted Eagle-Owl is a common bird in South Africa and may be found in both the countryside and built-up areas.

It can be up to 50 cm in length and weigh up to 850 grams. The wingspan may reach 1.4 metres. Male and female have the same colouration.

The Spotted Eagle-Owl feeds on a variety of different foods including small mammals and birds, insects, frogs and reptiles.

Pairs mate for life. They don't put any effort into making a nest and will just lay their eggs on the ground, rocky ledge or even a building. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	368	Bubo africanus africanus
2nd	368	Bubo africanus
3rd	368	Bubo africanus
4th	368	Bubo africanus
5th	401	Bubo africanus
6th	401	Bubo africanus
7th	165	Bubo africanus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	368	Spotted Eagle Owl
2nd	368	Spotted Eagle Owl
3rd	368	Spotted Eagle Owl
4th	368	Spotted Eagle Owl
5th	401	Spotted Eagle Owl
6th	401	Spotted Eagle Owl
7th	165	Spotted Eagle-Owl

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	368	Gevlekte-ooruil
2nd	368	Gevlekte Ooruil
3rd	368	Gevlekte Ooruil
4th	368	Gevlekte Ooruil
5th	401	Gevlekte Ooruil
6th	401	Gevlekte Ooruil
7th	165	Gevlekte Ooruil

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 51

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 46

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 114

The Owls of Southern Africa - Author: Alan Kemp and Simon Calburn - Published: 1987 - Page: 130

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 50

The Living Deserts of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Darry Lovegrove - Published: 2021 - Page: 132

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 26

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 149

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 159

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 21

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 256

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 234

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 244

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 347

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 252

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 263

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 350

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 27

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 78

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 195

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 346

Owls and Owling - Author: W. Tarboton & R. Erasmus - Published: 1998 - Page: 24

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 44

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 220

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 58

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 220

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 174

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 164

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 24

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 68

Gardening with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1988 - Page: 60

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 110

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 42

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 148

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 77

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 133

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 70

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 125

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 48

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 108

Birds of Prey - A Kinship - Author: H. Von Michaelis - Published: 1987 - Page: 80

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 273

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 240

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 87

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 149

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 121

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 160

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 121

A Delight of Owls - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1984 - Page: 90

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 159

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