Alternative names: Australasian Grass-Owl; Australian Grass-Owl
- Tyto longimembris
Identification
Female: 35-38cm Male: 32-36cm
- Dark brown above, pale spots
- Cream or buff below with brown spots
- Buff wing bars
- White facial disc
- Brown mark in front of each eye
- Brown iris
- Pale brown bill
- Very long feathered legs
- Grey feet
Distribution
India to southeast Asia, Philippines, and Australia.
Taxonomy
Until recently, the Eastern Grass Owl was considered to be part of African Grass Owl which at that time was known only as "Grass Owl".
There are 5 subspecies.
Habitat
Swamps and tall grasses.
Behaviour
Nocturnal.
The diet includes rodents.
They are ground nesters, building the platform nest from grass in dense tussocks of grass or sedges; 3-8 dull white eggs are laid and are incubated for about 42 days. The young fledge at about 2 months.
References
Owlpages