Bubo africanus
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 cm (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species.
Spotted eagle-owls are the most common species of owl found in Southern Africa. They have a healthy population in most parts of the region. They are often referred to as urban owls and will live in close proximity to human habitation. They occur throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They can also be found in thorn savanna and in suburban gardens, such as the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe.
Its prey mainly consists of rodents, small mammals, birds (up to the size of terns and falcons), insects (such as beetles), other arthropods... Wikipedia →
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Eagle-Owl sighting in Hwange National Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 253rd most-seen of the 308 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Eagle-Owl in Hwange National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February to December, the lowest months. That is one of Hwange National Park's wettest months, with about 150 mm of rain against almost none in July.
Between 4 and 7 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Spotted Eagle-Owl sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
15th of 33
Of the 33 parks where we can rate Spotted Eagle-Owl sightings, Hwange National Park ranks 15th at under 5%. The best odds are in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa, about 20%), Table Mountain National Park (South Africa, about 10%) and De Hoop Nature Reserve (South Africa, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Spotted Eagle-Owl is recorded against all the birds logged in Hwange National Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
