Photo: Drägüs / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Greyish Eagle-Owl
Bubo cinerascens
Greyish Eagle-Owl (Bubo cinerascens) — Owls of Africa.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greyish Eagle-Owl (Bubo cinerascens) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 500 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 Bubo
- Species cinerascens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 500 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 Greyish Eagle-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 Greyish Eagle-Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greyish Eagle-Owl (Bubo cinerascens) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and n Kenya.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 500 g, with a wing length of about 29.9 cm and a tail of around 16.2 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 9.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greyish Eagle-Owl?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl is a large bird that weighs around 500 g.
Where does the Greyish Eagle-Owl live?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and n Kenya, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Greyish Eagle-Owl belong to?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl (Bubo cinerascens) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Greyish Eagle-Owl eat?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Greyish Eagle-Owl migrate?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greyish 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.
What sound does the Greyish Eagle-Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Greyish Eagle-Owl — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Greyish Eagle-Owl's range?
The Greyish Eagle-Owl has a mapped global range of about 9.7 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.