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This large owl with the distinctive face, large forward-facing eyes, horns and deep resonant call is associated with a number of superstitions. Like many other large owls, these are considered birds of ill omen. Their deep haunting calls if delivered from atop a house are considered to forebode the death of an occupant. A number of rituals involving the capture and killing of these birds have been recorded. Salim Ali notes a wide range of superstitions related to them but notes two as being particularly widespread. One is that if the bird is starved for a few days and beaten, it would speak like a human, predicting the future of the tormentor or bringing them wealth while the other involves the killing of the bird to find a lucky bone that moved against the current like a snake when dropped into a stream.Belief in these superstitions has led to the persecution of the species in many areas by tribal hunters. The capture of these birds is illegal under Indian law but an underground market continues to drive poaching.

Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) sitting high up in a tree in a forest during winter. The bird of prey is resting and looking around in the woodland in Overijssel, Netherlands.

The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), close-up of a young bird in the zoo, Ukraine

A closeup shot of an owl with brown eyes. Fauna concept

Eurasian Eagle Owl close up with nature background.

European Eagle owl resting, eyes open, the Netherlands

A detailed portrait of an Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) with distinctive orange eyes, feathers, and a blurred natural backdrop capturing its essence in the wilderness.

$L 59-73cm, WS 138-170cm.\nResident in mountains an forests, preferring areas with rocks, steep cliffs and mature trees (preferably conifers); often in rocky archipelagos. Scattered distribution, generally rare and local.\nNocturnal and partly crepuscular. Day roost in dense mature spruces or firs, or in cave or crevice.\nFood mammals (voles, rats, hedgehogs, hares) and birds (corvids, gulls, wildfowl).\nNests on inaccessible cliff-edge or less often on the ground by rock, uprooted tree or among boulders, exceptionally in abandoned raptor’s nest or n barn, abandoned factory, etc.\nIn spite of its size and its impressive claws is by and large a non-violent and retiring owl near its nest, and aggressive behaviour toward humans is rare.\n\nThis is a scarce owl in the eastern and Southern part of the Netherlands and is mostly breeding in abandoned Quarries.\n\nThis Picture is made at a Birds of Prey Farm near Lunteren (Gelderland, the Netherlands).$

Siberian Eagle Owl close up with nature background.

Close shot of the eyes of an eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo).

$The dusky eagle-owl (Bubo coromandus) Found in forest and forest edge, plantation. Prefers watered and well wooded areas. Mango tree groves, and old tamarind and other densely foliaged trees are preferred.\nIt is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is widespread in Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Thailand and listed as being of least concern by IUCN.\nThe nesting season is from November to April. \nThe nest is made of sticks in the fork of the trunk of a large tree preferably near water and often in the vicinity of human habitation.$

A close up of an Eagle Owl's (Bubo Bubo) head.

Extreme close-up of a owl with it's wings in motion on a black background

Two yoùng tawny owls (Strix aluco) are looking out of a nesting box.

$Spotted Eagle-Owl.\nThe spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 cm (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species.$

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