Wildlifeof Nepal
Tawny Fish Owl
Owls
Photo: (c) Mathieu Soetens, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Ketupa flavipes
Basic stats
Diet
Largely fish; hunts on foot in the shallows
Habitat
Subtropical to temperate forest in the Himalayan foothills
Clutch size
Usually 2 eggs, sometimes 1
Size
48–61cm
Weight
Average about 2,415g
The tawny fish owl is one of the heaviest living owls, 48–61 cm long, with six adults averaging about 2,415 g. Like other fish owls it has large ear tufts, but they usually hang to the sides of the head, distinctly messy and tousled, and it has yellow eyes. The scapulars are a dingy yellow forming a contrasting band across the shoulders. Its feet have a rough texture under the toes that helps it grasp slippery fish (Wikipedia, general species account).
Unlike many fish-eating diurnal raptors it does not submerge any part of its body when hunting, putting only its feet into the water, though fish owls sometimes wade into the shallows (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Tawny Fish Owl eat?
- Largely fish; hunts on foot in the shallows
- What habitat does the Tawny Fish Owl live in?
- Subtropical to temperate forest in the Himalayan foothills
- How many eggs does the Tawny Fish Owl lay?
- Usually 2 eggs, sometimes 1
- How big is the Tawny Fish Owl?
- 48–61cm
- How much does the Tawny Fish Owl weigh?
- Average about 2,415g