Description:

Large to huge, almost barrel-shaped, with prominent ear-tufts, powerful bill and feet. Upperparts mottled dark brown and greyish-buff; breast heavily streaked. Larger, paler and greyer than Indian Eagle Owl, with less heavily marked upperparts, plainer facial discs (lacking pronounced dark border) and less heavily barred tail.

Distribution:

Widespread resident in the north-western parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, very rare in Astore and Baltistan. Inhabits areas of sparse human settlement and inaccessible terrain, rocky country with cliffs and ravines, scattered trees or groves, up to 4000m.

Behavior:

Primarily nocturnal, somewhat crepuscular, even diurnal in summer. Hunts mostly from open perch; also in searching flight; takes prey while flying close to ground or tree-tops; usually watches and waits for prey. Feeds mostly on mammals, from size of water vole to adult hares, and birds from size of jay to herons and buzzard; also occasionally amphibians, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Eurasian Eagle-Owl in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.