Owls

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl – The largest owl species in Sri Lanka.

Owls

Click on any of the smaller photographs below, to enlarge the image and see the caption.

Brown Fish Owl (Bubo zeylonensis zeylonensis) eating a bird. Also eats fish, reptiles and small mammals. (1,2)

Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata). Has a round head and yellow eyes. Lack of ear tufts distinguishes this owl from all other Sri Lankan owls. (1,2)

Pair of Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) settling in a tree for a daytime sleep in the central Colombo Viharamahadevi Park. (1,2)

Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata). Its head is ashy brown, with some white on the face. The breast is dark and streaked with white. (1,2)

Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) resting in a tree in the central Colombo Viharamahadevi Park. (1,2)

Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) puffing up its breast and head feathers in a tree in the central Colombo Viharamahadevi Park. (1,2)

Spot-bellied (or Forest) Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis blighi) - A scarce Owl which lives in lowland forests and hunts Giant Flying Squirrels - see panel on the right. It bathes before it begins its night's hunting and can eat small mammals, birds as big as the Jungle Fowl and lizards and snakes. (1,2)

The Giant Grey Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) is hunted by the Spot-belled Eagle Owl, so it is always wary and always on the lookout. (3)

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Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)

White-bellied Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) with catch. (1,2)

White-bellied Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis blighi)

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis blighi)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster) Juvenile

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) Adult

A pair of Changeable Hawk Eagles (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) Adults

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) Juvenile. (1,2)

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) Juvenile. (1,2)

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) Juvenile. (1,2)

Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis). (1,2)

Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata)

Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) female

Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) male

Brown Fish Owl (Bubo zeylonensis zeylonensis)

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)

Sri Lanka. So much more than you can see in a lifetime.

Bird References
1. Harrison J. A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.
2. Henry G.M. A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 3rd edn. Colombo: Oxford University Press; 1998.

Mammal References
3. Kotagama S, Goonatilake S de A & Ratnavira G. Pictorial Pocket Guide to the Mammals of Sri Lanka (revised and expanded). © 2013 Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka.