Barred Eagle-Owl

Scientific Name: Bubo sumatranus
Malay Name: Burung-Hantu Bertanduk Belang Melayu
Chinese Name: 马来雕鸮

Range:
Found from Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: sumatranus, strepitans, tenuifasciatus.

Local Subspecies: sumatranus

Size: 45.5-46.5 cm

Identification:
Adult has brown-and-buff bars on its upperparts, blackish-and-whitish bars on its underparts, dark eyes and very distinctive outward facing ear tufts. Head and body of juvenile whitish with narrower bars.

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth and plantation.

Behaviour/Ecology: Diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, rodents, birds and snakes. Had been observed to prey on Long-tailed Macaque.

Local Status: Rare resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

• First breeding record of the Barred Eagle-Owl in Singapore Island (Uncategorized)
• Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
• 5 owl calls to know before your next night walk (Birding Starter Pack)

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Adult female (L) and male (R) Barred Eagle-Owl at Fuyong Estate

Juvenile Barred Eagle-Owl at Fuyong Estate

Juvenile Barred Eagle-Owl at Fuyong Estate

Barred Eagle Owl at Senai, Johor. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Barred Eagle Owl at Senai, Johor. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Barred Eagle-Owl at Singapore Quarry. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Barred Eagle Owl at Senai, Johor. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Barred Eagle Owl (juvenile) at Senai, Johor. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Barred Eagle Owl at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Photo Credit: Vincent Ng

Barred Eagle Owl at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Photo Credit: Francis Yap