Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Owls

African Grass Owl

Tyto capensis

African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) — Owls of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Kenya Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa

By family

Owls of Kenya Owls of Tanzania Owls of South Africa

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The African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) is a member of the Tytonidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 365 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Tytonidae Barn Owls
Genus Tyto
Species capensis

Where it lives

Sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Cameroon south to South Africa

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 365 g
Diet: Vertebrate hunters
Family: Tytonidae
Order: Strigiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The African Grass Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The African Grass Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) is a member of the Tytonidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Cameroon s to South Africa.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 365 g, with a wing length of about 30 cm and a tail of around 11.8 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 2.7 million km².

Songs & calls

African Grass Owl — Call

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the African Grass Owl?

The African Grass Owl is a large bird that weighs around 365 g.

Where does the African Grass Owl live?

The African Grass Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Cameroon s to South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the African Grass Owl belong to?

The African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) belongs to the Tytonidae family, in the order Strigiformes.

What does the African Grass Owl eat?

The African Grass Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Does the African Grass Owl migrate?

The African Grass Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the African Grass 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.

What sound does the African Grass Owl make?

1 real field recording of the African Grass Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the African Grass Owl's range?

The African Grass Owl has a mapped global range of about 2.7 million km².