Photo: yossi aud יוסי אוד / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Desert Owl
Strix hadorami
Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) — Owls of Europe & Northern Asia.
The Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 219 g. 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 Strix
- Species hadorami
Where it lives
Red Sea coast of Egypt and Sudan, Sinai Pen., southern, eastern Israel, western Jordan and patchily through Saudi Arabia, Yemen and southern Oman
Quick facts
- Weight
- 219 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Desert Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Desert Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF Red Sea coast of Egypt and Sudan, Sinai Pen., s, e Israel, w Jordan and patchily through Saudi Arabia, Yemen and s Oman.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 219 g, with a wing length of about 25.1 cm and a tail of around 14.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 196,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Desert Owl?
The Desert Owl is a large bird that weighs around 219 g.
Where does the Desert Owl live?
The Desert Owl is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF Red Sea coast of Egypt and Sudan, Sinai Pen., s, e Israel, w Jordan and patchily through Saudi Arabia, Yemen and s Oman, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Desert Owl belong to?
The Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Desert Owl eat?
The Desert Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Desert Owl migrate?
The Desert Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Desert 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 Desert Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Desert Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Desert Owl's range?
The Desert Owl has a mapped global range of about 196,000 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.