Common Name : Philippine Eagle Owl

Scientific Name : Bubo philippensis

Local Names : Bukao, Kwago, Butbut kwaw

Description:

The Philippine Eagle Owl, formerly called as Philippine Horned Owl, is the largest owl in the Philippines. Its height reaches up to 500 mm and its wing expands up to 360 mm. It possesses the distinct characteristics of most owls-facial disc and ear tuffs.

Its legs and toes are covered with feathers; bill is horn blue at base, yellow at tip; yellow eyes; feet fleshy brown and claws light horn. It has rufous upperparts and its physical appearance is almost similar in both sexes, except that the females are paler than males.

Philippine Eagle Owl is often seen near rivers and creeks of lowland forest. As secretive as its behavior, information of its breeding behavior is also lacking.

There are no information about the bird’s food and feeding habits in the wild. In captivity, the Philippine Eagle Owls eat beef, pork, rats, rabbit and tilapia.

This species has been recorded in Catanduanes and Luzon. It is considered threatened due to habitat loss and overexploitation. The status of this Owl is categorized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) or World Conservation Union as Vulnerable. This means that if the factors that cause its decline persist, there is a possibility that it will become endangered or critically endangered in the near future.

The Philippine Eagle Owl belongs to Appendix II species list of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). Meaning, the trade of this species is strictly regulated.