Various species of birds have found suitable habitats in the Indian Subcontinent. Owls are no exception in this regard. Various species of owls have been recorded in different parts of India. Some of these owls are described below.
Brown Wood Owl
Brown Wood Owl is defined as a resident breeder. Male and female Brown Wood Owls are physically similar. They have uniformly dark brown upperparts. There is a faint white spotting on the shoulders. The underparts are buff with brown streaking. The facial disc is brown or rufous and edged in white. Brown Wood Owl has dark brown eyes. It has a white neckband.
Brown Fish Owl
Brown Fish Owl resides in most tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian subcontinent. This large owl has prominent ear tufts, rufous brown upperparts, which are heavily streaked in black or dark brown color. The underparts are buffy-fulvous to whitish, with wavy dark brown streaks and finer brown barring. Its throat is white and its facial disk is indistinct. Its feet are duller yellow in color and the bill is dark.
Tawny Fish Owl
Tawny Fish Owl is orangey-rufous in color on the crown and upperparts. Its scapulars are dingy yellow in color, forming a contrasting band which runs across the owl`s shoulders. Its flight and tail feathers are strongly barred dark brown. The facial disc is poorly defined but a sizeable off-white area on the eyebrows and forehead stands out.
Indian Eagle Owl
Indian Eagle Owl is defined as a species of large horned owl. It is mainly found near rocky places within the mainland of the Indian subcontinent south of the Himalayas. It is a brown and grey bird, which has a white throat patch with black small stripes.
Indian Scops Owl
Indian Scops Owl is a small bird with small head tufts or ears. The upperparts of this nocturnal species are grey or brown depending on the morph, with faint buff spotting. The underparts are buff with fine darker streaking. Its facial disc is whitish or buff and the color of its eyes is orange or brown.
Spot-Bellied Eagle-Owl
Spot-Bellied Eagle-Owl is known to be a bird of prey and a forest-inhabiting species found in India. This bird has feathered legs and feet. The terminal digits of the toes are bare before the talons. They have a scraggly appearance at the tips due to the ear-tufts, which are very long and noticeably of variable length.
Other Indian Owls
Eastern Grass Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Mottled Wood Owl and Tawny Owl are some of the other Indian Owls.
