| Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl | |
|---|---|
| A Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl from the Biligirirangan Hills | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Bubo (but see text) |
| Species: | B. nipalensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bubo nipalensis Hodgson, 1836 |
|
The Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, also known as the Forest Eagle-Owl, Bubo nipalensis is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance. It is a forest-inhabiting species found in southern and south-eastern Asia. This, like its relative the Barred Eagle-Owl, is one of the species that would have to be moved into Ketupa if that genus is to be retained, according to mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Olsen et al. 2002).
The Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl is nocturnal and spends the day hidden among foliage of a large forest tree. At dusk it becomes active and hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds up to the size of junglefowl.
Noted for its strange, human-sounding call, it was suggested that it be the cryptid known as ulama or "Devil Bird" in Sri Lanka.[1] A local name is Maha Bakamuna ("large horned owl"). According to http://www.cryptozoology.com, in July 2001 it was confirmed that ulama description perfectly matches Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl.
Its nesting season is from December to March.