An endangered species of the owl family. An extremely rare species of eagle owls, included in the International Red Book. In total, only four thousand of these owls live in the world.
The appearance of a fish owl
The appearance of the fish owl is slightly different from the ordinary one. Plumage of brown color with speckled specks all over the body. There is a small white spot between the throat and body. In terms of its dimensions, the fish owl is not inferior to its relatives, its body length can reach 75 centimeters, and its weight can reach 4 kilograms. The eyes of the fish owl are bright yellow with excellent vision. The beak is curved and wide. On the head are fluffy feather ears. A distinctive feature of the fish owl is the absence of plumage on its paws.
Habitat
The fish owl has been unknown for a long time. Small notes about him appeared only in the 70s. The fish owl is a rarity for bird watchers due to its habitat. It was possible to meet this species in very remote regions of Russia and on the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Sometimes the bird lives in Manchuria and North Korea. In Russia, small populations are found in Primorye, Sakhalin and Magadan.
Forests are preferred as habitats near non-freezing fast-flowing rivers. In nature, the fish owl lives up to 20 years, and in captivity it can live for more than 40 years.
Feeding and finding prey
Like most members of the owl family, fish owls become active at nightfall. As a rule, their main prey is fish. Sometimes birds can eat amphibians. The hunting grounds for fish owls are marked by trails and holes that this large bird makes on the way to the river. Birds can lurk in the snow, waiting for the opportunity to attack prey.
In severe frosts, fish owls flock to unfrozen springs. Thus, accumulations of fish owls can form, which is very rare. The common fish owl is a solitary animal and always eats food alone, protecting the selected territory from competing congeners.
Fish eagle owls are sedentary birds and rarely leave the nesting site. They are forced to roam only by the lack of food in the area they have chosen.
Owl’s favorite fish are salmon, trout and pike. They hunt crayfish, frogs and minks. Due to its large size, it can attack other birds. Sometimes it feeds on carrion.
Reproduction
Fish owls become sexually mature in the third year of life. The mating season begins in frosty February. During this period, the male chooses his site and informs other representatives with a loud cry early in the morning or with the onset of evening twilight. By these sounds, the female learns that there is a worthy male for procreation.
Fish owls take care of the chosen female in a special way. Each male must demonstrate an ability to forage for prey to prove his intentions. It looks like this: while the male is waiting for prey by the river, the female sits on a branch and observes how the future father of the offspring copes.
The formed pairs make nests in the gorges of old trees. With the onset of spring, the female lays two eggs. Incubation takes place within a month. The female does not leave her eggs, as the cold climate does not allow it. If the female is absent, then her offspring runs the risk of perishing without even hatching. As a rule, only one chick is born from two eggs. Parents take care of the cubs for two months. In the third month, young chicks acquire the ability to fly independently. They leave the nest only after a few months. Sometimes even one-year-old fish owls can fly to their parents and beg for food. Many children stay with their parents for two years, learning how to fish.
Fish Owl Chicks
Characteristics
The plumage of a fish owl is not able to accumulate a layer of fat that protects birds from water, because of which wet feathers can freeze, preventing poor birds from moving. This can be recognized by the characteristic noise during the bird’s flight over long distances.
A surprising feature of the fish owl is its tendency to become obese. Preparing for freezing, the fish owl accumulates a lot of subcutaneous fat, which can be up to two centimeters in length.
When a danger arises, a fish owl fluffs up its plumage, which makes it many times larger, thereby frightening a potential enemy.
