Spotted Eagle Owl

THIS large owl with its ear tufts and large yellow eyes is as common in the city as it is on roadside telephone poles and fence posts. The 'ear-tufts' do not appear to perform any special function other than to frighten its enemies. The real ear cavities are sited asymmetrically on the edge of the facial disc and are covered by feathers. The right ear cavity (as can
be seen in the cleaned skull) is above the left ear slit and this enables the bird to 'focus' the direction and distance to determine the sound source. Because the eyes are situated in this facial disc, its vision is mainly forward. To compensate, it is able to twist its head around through 180 degrees, which it often does when it perches.
These birds normally roost in towns concealed against a tree-trunk or on a building ledge but in the country they roost on the ground, under bushes or in antbear holes. After sunset they come out and perch in a prominent situation from which they can seek their prey. Often they utter their call¬the male a 'voo-whooo', the second note being softer, and the female a 'voo wu-whooo', with a short middle syllable. From these prominent perches they glide silently on to their prey, which in towns consists largely of rats and mice. In the country they feed more on insects and some birds.
The parent birds can be quite protective of their young and have been known to attack man and to use their hind-claws to rip the backs of large dogs when they come too near the young.