The Blakiston fish owl is the biggest owl in the world for reasons. I’m sharing the article!
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl, also called the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, holds the title of the most enormous owl in the world.
It looks remarkable to me with its orange eyes and tan, brown, and gray feathers but snowy owl is also the largest owls in the world because it also larger prey.
I found this owl in Asia, but they specifically live in eastern Russia and northern Japan.
Did you know? Its main threats are habitat loss and degradation.
We will discover where it lives, what it eats, how it reproduces, and what people are doing to protect it.
Let’s dive into the exciting world of Blakiston’s Fish Owl!
ARE BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL RARE?
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl, also known as the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, is the most giant in the world.
It is a giant bird, up to 28 inches long, and its weight is nearly 9 pounds. There are also the top 5 largest owl species! i also discovered and blakistons fish owl comes in the 1st place!
It has distinctive orange eyes, with ear tufts that are often folded back.
Its feathers are tan, brown, and gray, helping it camouflage in the forests and woodlands it inhabits.
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FACTS |
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| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Bubo blakistoni |
| LIFESPAN | Up to 25 years in captivity |
| TOP SPEED | Unknown, but estimated to be around 50 km/h (31 mph) |
| WEIGHT | Males: 2.5 to 4 kg (5.5 to 8.8 lb); Females: 3.5 to 6.8 kg (7.7 to 15 lb) |
| LENGTH | 60 to 72 cm (24 to 28 in) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Strigidae |
| GENUS | Bubo |
| SPECIES | Bubo blakistoni |
WHAT DOES A BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL SOUND LIKE?
WHERE IS THE BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL LOCATED?
The Blakiston’s great horned owl is found in Asia, from eastern Russia to northern Japan.
It lives in riparian forests, usually near rivers, lakes or streams.
It feeds almost exclusively on fish and amphibians, hunting along the water’s edge.
Due to its large size and the openness of its habitat, the Blakiston’s Fish Owl can be easier to spot than most owls.
However, its population is estimated to only be 5,000 to 10,000 individuals left in the wild.
WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF BLAKISTONS FISH OWL
Blakiston’s Fish Owls can live up to 25-30 years in the wild. Some individuals in captivity have lived up to 36 years.
Like most large owls, the Blakiston’s Fish Owl is long-lived and did you know? Also fish owl is the largest owl in the world!
However, their lifespan can vary significantly in the wild based on factors like habitat quality, food availability, and the threat of predators or human activity.
The species reaches sexual maturity around 2-3 years of age.
WHAT DO BLAKISTON OWLS EAT
These owls are hunters and will eat almost any kind of freshwater fish.
They will also consume amphibians, small mammals, and invertebrates on occasion. Sometimes they also eat cicadas, and cracked corn.
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl will perch on a tree overlooking a body of water and swoop down to snatch its prey with its sharp talons.
It swallows smaller fish whole, but larger fish are taken back to the tree, where the owl will tear it apart before eating.
BREEDING
The breeding season for these owls is from April to July. Females will lay 2-4 eggs incubated for about 35 days.
The female does most of the incubation while the male provides food and trees for nesting is the best place for them.
Owlets hatch with grey down feathers and open their eyes after about two weeks.
They learn to fly at around 50-60 days old but continue to rely on their parents for food for up to 6-8 months.
WHY IS BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL ENDANGERED?
These magnificent owls are classified as endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation.
Logging, development near rivers and lakes, and pollution are significant threats.
Conservation efforts are focused on protecting riparian habitats in their range.
Blakiston’s Fish Owls are also subject to being hunted and trapped, though this is now illegal in many areas.
Breeding programs have been started in some zoos to help boost the wild population numbers.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BIGGEST OWL IN THE WORLD
Blakiston’s barred owl are excellent swimmers. They have water-resistant feathers and skin and partially webbed toes that aid swimming. They will float to pursue and capture prey, sometimes diving entirely underwater.
- These owls mostly hunt at night, but sometimes they also hunt during the day, especially in the breeding season when they need extra food to feed their young. Their distinctive calls can be heard at night, consisting of deep hoots.
- Blakiston’s Fish Owls scoop fish directly out of the water with their sharp talons and wade into shallow waters to catch fish in their beaks. They sometimes batfish out of the water with their wings before grabbing them.
- Female Blakiston’s Fish Owls, known as hens, are larger and heavier than males. The giant hen on record weighed 11.5 lbs, while the most prominent male was 9 lbs. Females dominate the males in displaying aggressive behaviour.
- Breeding pairs are monogamous and occupy an extensive home range of 50-200 square km. During breeding and nesting, the team will roost close together, but at other times may roost up to 500m apart.
- The nest is a shallow bowl of sticks lined with moss, grass, and feathers. Nests are usually located in a tree’s hollow but sometimes on the ground. The male brings materials to the female, who arranges the nest.
- Newly hatched owlets, known as chicks or nestlings, weigh only 60-80 grams. Their eyes open around 12-15 days old, and feathers emerge everywhere at two weeks old. The chicks fledge and leave the next about 50-60 days after hatching.
- Blakiston’s Fish Owls are primarily silent outside of the breeding season. Their calls mainly communicate and strengthen the pair’s bond or during aggressive interactions with other individuals.
- The species was first described by the British naturalist Thomas Blakiston in 1858. However, the specific name translates to “eagle owl,” which can confuse as Blakiston’s Fish Owl is very much an owl, not an eagle.
CONCLUSION
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl captures our attention and needs our protection. It is a unique species and the biggest owl in the world.
These owls are unique because they are massive and have special features that help them survive.
We must support conservation efforts to protect the habitat and stop the population of endangered species from decreasing.
By spreading the word about it, we can ensure that future generations can still see the fantastic Blakiston’s Fish Owl.
We appreciate your kind review about blakistons fish owl!
FAQ.s
HOW DID BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL GET ITS NAME?
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl got its name from Thomas Blakiston, an English naturalist. He found and wrote about this kind of owl in 1883 when he went to Hokkaido, Japan.
HOW DOES BLAKISTON’S FISH OWL HUNT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS?
Blakiston’s Fish Owls have amazing night vision. They can see well in the dark and use it to move around and hunt easily. Their eyes are big and can see well in the dark.
ARE BLAKISTON’S FISH OWLS ENDANGERED?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies Blakiston’s Fish Owl as a vulnerable species. The population of the animals has gone down because their homes have been taken away, and they have been bothered.
DO BLAKISTON’S FISH OWLS MIGRATE?
Blakiston’s Fish Owls usually stay in one place and do not travel far distances. Animals create territories in their favourite homes and stay there all year long.
CAN BLAKISTON’S FISH OWLS SWIM?
Blakiston’s Fish Owls can swim short distances if needed, even though they are not famous for their swimming skills. They use their big wings and feathers that repel water to help them move across bodies of water.
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