The enigmatic Indian eagle-owl

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

The Indian eagle-owl was classified as a species only in recent years, thus distinguishing it from the Eurasian eagle-owl.

Indian eagle-owl:

The Indian species is an imposing bird.
The slightly larger female can reach a total length of two and a half feet, with a wingspan of six feet.
Prominent ear tufts that look like horns are seen to project from its head.
One theory holds that these have evolved to impart a threatening look that keeps away predators.
It is nocturnal in nature.
It is native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent.
The widespread range — the entire Indian peninsula — indicates that it is a stable population.
It is usually seen in pairs. It has a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk.
The Indian eagle-owl does not have a dependency on forests as their diet includes rats, bandicoots, and even bats and doves which are found in open scrubland and agricultural tracts.
It nests on rocky perches and crags of those scrublands.
Near human settlements, they prefer mango trees.

Benefits to farmers:

Indian eagle-owls nesting near agricultural lands had more, and healthier, owlets than scrubland nesters.
It controls the rodent populations in agricultural tracts thus preventing the loss.