Buffy Fish Owl

Ketupa ketupu

Family: Owls · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 45.5–47 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Resident from southern Assam and West Bengal through Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo.

Identification

Has a buff facial disc with striking white eyebrows, yellow eyes and distinct ear tufts. Upperparts buff, streaked with dark brown and edged pale rufous. Underparts warm buff with dark streaks thinning on belly and flanks. Legs are unfeathered.

Habitat

Forest, parks, and gardens near waterways, including rivers, reservoirs, and coastal areas; tolerates urban settings with suitable water bodies.

Behaviour

Normally solitary. Most active at dawn and dusk, hunting from a perch or standing in shallow water; diet is mainly fish, frogs, and small mammals.