Brown Fish Owl

 The brown fish owl is a fish owl species in the family known as typical owls. It is native from Turkey to South and Southeast Asia. It inhabits forests and wooded wetlands. Of the four living species of fish owl, it is the most widely distributed, most common, and best-studied. It occupies a range of over 7,000 km. The brown fish owl is an all-year resident throughout most tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and adjoining regions.

The brown fish owl has prominent ear tufts and rufous-brown upperparts that are heavily streaked with black or dark brown. Its underparts are whitish, with wavy dark brown streaks and finer brown barring. Its throat is white and conspicuously puffed. Its facial disk is indistinct, the bill dark and the iris golden yellow. Its featherless feet are yellow. Two-year-old brown fish owls are somewhat paler than adults. Females and males differ slightly in size. In body size, it ranges from 48 to 61 cm with a wingspan from 125 to 140 cm. Its weight varies considerably, ranging from 1.1 to 2.5 kg.

The buffy fish owl is nocturnal but can often be located by the small birds that mob it while roosting in a tree. However, in some areas, it may be seen hunting during the daytime, especially in cloudy weather. Brown fish owl primarily hunts by stationing itself on a rock overhang or hanging perch over water, or by wading into shallow waters. It grabs food by gliding over the water, nearly skimming it with its feet and grabbing its prey by quickly extending its long legs. It feeds mainly on fishes, frogs, and aquatic crustaceans, especially crabs. It usually selects the larger freshwater fish available in waterways.