Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cape Eagle-Owl
Bubo capensis
Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) — Owls of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Bubo
- Species capensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cape Eagle-Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cape Eagle-Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s, se, e.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 36.1 cm and a tail of around 19 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.9 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cape Eagle-Owl?
The Cape Eagle-Owl is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Cape Eagle-Owl live?
The Cape Eagle-Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, se, e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Cape Eagle-Owl belong to?
The Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Cape Eagle-Owl eat?
The Cape Eagle-Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Cape Eagle-Owl migrate?
The Cape Eagle-Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cape Eagle-Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Cape Eagle-Owl's range?
The Cape Eagle-Owl has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.