Spotted Eagle-Owl
Spotted Eagle-OwlSpotted Eagle-OwlSpotted Eagle-OwlSpotted Eagle-Owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Bubo africanus

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Chobe National Park
3 Verified sightings at Chobe National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,952 Verified sightings across all 48 parks From 2019 to 2026
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the Spotted Eagle-Owl

The spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 cm (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species.

Spotted eagle-owls are the most common species of owl found in Southern Africa. They have a healthy population in most parts of the region. They are often referred to as urban owls and will live in close proximity to human habitation. They occur throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They can also be found in thorn savanna and in suburban gardens, such as the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe.

Its prey mainly consists of rodents, small mammals, birds (up to the size of terns and falcons), insects (such as beetles), other arthropods... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Chobe National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
LC

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubo lacteus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pearl-spotted Owlet
LC

Pearl-spotted Owlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Glaucidium perlatum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Barred Owlet
LC

African Barred Owlet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Glaucidium capense

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Scops-Owl
LC

African Scops-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Otus senegalensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Southern White-faced Owl
LC

Southern White-faced Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ptilopsis granti

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Marsh Owl
LC

Marsh Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Asio capensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pel's Fishing-Owl
LC

Pel's Fishing-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Scotopelia peli

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Wood-Owl
LC

African Wood-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Strix woodfordii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Barn-Owl
LC

Common Barn-Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Tyto alba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
2 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
4 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
5 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
6 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
7 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
8 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
9 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
10 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
11 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
12 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
13 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
14 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
15 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
16 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
17 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
18 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
20 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
22 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
23 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
24 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
26 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
27 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
28 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
29 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
30 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
31 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
32 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
33 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
34 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
35 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
36 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
37 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
38 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
39 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
40 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
41 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
42 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
43 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
44 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
45 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
46 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
47 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
48 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
← Back to Chobe National Park