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Background color of adult Eagle Owls is very variable from dark-rusty dense black-brown mottled to pale-buff or almost creamy-white with rare isolated spots. Head is dark streaked above. Feathers of shoulders are with dark tips and marble same-color pattern on base of feathers; its outer webs often are with large white spots which formed character mottling on the back of Eagle-Owl. Wing is broad and short, its tip is formed by 3-5 primaries with dark tips. Borders of outer webs of 1-3 primaries are barbed, second and third primaries are barbed only in narrowed terminal part. Tail is slightly rounded; tail feathers are with very variable cross-pattern. Facial disc is expressed only in bottom part. Breast is black and brown longitudinal streaked. Flacks and belly have character cross-pattern which is different in each geographical races. Tarsus and toes are full feathered. Eyes are orange-red, bill and claws are black. Females are larger than males. Young birds have variable background color - from orange-buff to pale-buff, with narrow cross-strips; throat is white; above the eyes there are two dark patches. Tail and flight feathers are colored as on adults, and not changed in first autumn moulting.

Biology

Eagle Owl is rare resident. It inhabits plain and hilly areas with rocks and cliffs, chinks or precipitates in river valleys, in dense deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests, in Tien Shan up to 3000 m. Eagle Owl breeds in separate pairs, fairly far each of other. Breeding territory is stable and is used by birds year in year out, in case of absence of external troubles. Nest is placed in cave; in hollow under stone; on ground near woodblock; under brushwood; nest is without any special materials. Clutches of 2-5 eggs is founded from mid-March to April. Female incubates for 35 days and male feed her. Nestlings hatch in end April at southern areas, and in late May on Altai. At first time male bring food to nest and female give it to chicks, but later both parents hunt for food. Juveniles fledge in end May - mid-July. Repeated breeding after losing of first clutch occurs. Broods break-up in September, and young birds disperse singly not far from birth area.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 2. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1962.
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.