Owls: Strigidae

Physical characteristics: The dark back is marked with reddish brown bars, contrasting with the barred, grayish white belly. The eyes are brown and the beak and feet are yellow. Barred eagle-owls have very noticeable ear tufts.

The group called "eagle-owls" includes the largest owls in the world. This species is a fairly small member of the group, 15.7 to 18.1 inches long (40 to 46 centimeters), a little smaller than the great horned owl.

Geographic range: Southern Myanmar, peninsular Thailand, south to Sumatra and Bangka Island.

Habitat: Tropical forests intersected by streams, secondary growth, plantations, and forested gardens.

Diet: Barred eagle-owls feed on large insects such as grasshoppers and beetles, along with small rodents, birds, and snakes.

Behavior and reproduction: The main call is a low-pitched "hoo." Pairs are thought to mate for life and may return to the same nest site year after year, often a natural tree cavity.

Barred eagle-owls and people: No particular significance to humans is known.

Conservation status: This species tolerates disturbed habitat and will nest around human homes. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN. ∎

Barred eagle-owls live in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. (Illustration by Patricia Ferrer. Reproduced by permission.)