The Desert Eagle Owl, also known as the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, is a formidable desert raptor with tawny, sand-coloured plumage mottled with darker spots and streaks that provide excellent camouflage in arid terrain. Known for its deep, resonant desert eagle owl call, the species uses this vocalisation to communicate across long distances, especially at dusk. Its strong talons and broad wings make it an efficient nocturnal hunter.
Desert Eagle Owl
Zone
Arabian
Scientific name
Bubo ascalaphus
IUCN Red List status
Least Concern (LC)
Natural habitat
The Desert Eagle Owl is found in dry rocky deserts, on mountain slopes with gorges and cliffs with scattered trees or shrubs, outcrops of oases, and occasionally in dry savannas.
Dietary Requirements
Carnivore: This bird preys on rodents, hares, bats, foxes, hedgehogs, birds, reptiles, larger insects and scorpions.
Threats
Climate change and its impact on the Desert Eagle Owl's prey.
Did you know?Owl eyes don’t move in their sockets, but some owls can turn their heads 270 degrees so that they can see in almost every direction.
A group of owls is called a “parliament”.
A group of owls is called a “parliament”.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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