OWL 8/16 - Dusky Eagle Owl (lifer 526)

The resident bird was at its ole hunt  on Friday when I got the long-awaited  news from my local fellow birder but alas dare not rush off from work as I already took  Thursday off to hunt for the elusive Slaty-legged Crake in FH. So hoping for the best that the bird will stay awhile until the weekend.

Saturday came as I tried my a third time in Fraser's Hill to see whether my lifer will show up. Just about 9.30am got a message that the Dusky Eagle Owl was sighted perching in another part of the tree; I abandoned my wait in FH and rush down to Jeram Perak. Took me a good 2.5 hours to reach the there and I must say it was worth it.

Ever cautious of your movement

Miss Droopy

Giving you the look ...."buzz of buster"

The Dusky is one of the larger Owl to see in Peninsula coming in almost 2 feet tall. The female is slightly bigger than the male. It is considered a lowland bird and can be found near watershed area, pond or river, and kampung area. Although not completely nocturnal, the Dusky Eagle Owl usually spends the daytime in the seclusion of a shady bough or foliage, becoming active about an hour before sunset.

They have been observed on the move and hunting in the day, especially cloudy days, but never during the brightest and hottest hours. They are usually found in pairs and are very faithful to localities. These owls can be heard calling at all hours of the day, and are most vocal during the rainy and cold seasons.

Color in heavy shade matching the dark shade and tree branch

Description The facial disc is whitish with dark shaft-streaks of feathers and a distinct, narrow and darker rim. The irises of the eyes are bright yellow. My id tip is its pinkish droopy eyelid when it is dozing off.  The cere and bill are bluish-lead in color with a pale yellowish-horn tip. The other tip is its prominent ear-tufts are a darker greyish-brown color. The upperparts are brownish-grey with blackish shaft-streaks and dark brown and whitish vermiculations. The scapulars have whitish outer webs, finely vermiculated brown, forming an indistinct scapular row.

The underparts are very pale buffish-grey with prominent, dark shaft-streaks and brown cross-bars. The primary and secondary flight feathers are barred light and darker greyish-brown. The tail is pale brownish-grey with white tips and has 4-5 broad, dark greyish-brown bars. The tarsi are feathered to or beyond the base of the toes. The sparsely bristled tips of the toes are plumbeous-grey in color with paler soles. Claws are blackish-brown.

Color in the evening light

Dusky Eagle Owls feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, fish, and large insects.