About Spot Bellied Eagle Owl
- The spot-bellied eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis), also known as the forest eagle-owl is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance.
- It is a forest-inhabiting species.
- The bird, usually found on large trees in thick forests
- It is usually found in the Indian sub-continent and South-East Asian regions and are common in North India.
- Spot Bellied Eagle Owl is a bold predatory bird, measuring 20-25 inches in length and weighing between 1.5 kg and 2 kg
- It preys on small mammals, often small rodents such as voles and rats and lizards.
- It is sighted for the first time in Seshachalam forest, and for the third time in Andhra Pradesh
- The bird makes a strange scream like humans, and it is hence called the ‘Ghost of the Forest’ in India and ‘Devil Bird’ in Sri Lanka
- It is labelled as the least concern in the IUCN red list and Appendix II of CITES