Buffy Fish Owl Bubo ketupa aagaardi
Etymology:
- Bubo : Latin word for Eurasian Eagle owl
- Ketupa : Malay name Ketupok for the Buffy Fish Owl
- Aagaardi : Karl Johan Ove Mønster Aagaard (1882-1950) Danish, naturalist
Distribution in India: Resident of North east India.
Description: Size of 40–48 cm; wt. of 1028–2100 g. It is the smallest fish-owl. The facial disc is pale buff, with white eyebrows. The upperparts are buff, streaked with dark brown, feathers edged with pale rufous; scapulars are whitish or pale buff. The flight feathers are barred dark brown and buff. The tail is dark brown with 2–4 whitish bars. It is warm buff below, streaked with dark brown, streaks becoming thinner and sparser on belly and flanks. The tarsi are unfeathered; talons are long and curved; irides are yellow. The eyelids have black edges; bill is blackish; toes are yellowish grey or brownish yellow. The juvenile is more russet and less white-spotted above, tail with 5–6 whitish bars. Race aagaardi is paler than nominate.
Habitat: It is found in forest bordering streams, rivers, and lakes; also trees beside rice fields and fish ponds, old plantations, parks and large gardens near wetlands, and mangroves; often close to human habitation. It is found in lowlands and plains up to 1600 m.
Food Habits: It eats fish, frogs, crustaceans,reptiles, large aquatic insects, small mammals like rats/ mice and birds .It forages at night, but frequently emerges from roost in late afternoon. It hunts from perch, swooping to catch fish from water surface; also stands beside or in shallow water to catch prey, and actively searches by walking in water.
Breeding Habits: They lay in Jan–Apr. The nest is a cavity in large tree, or in tree fork, or in old raptor nest, occasionally on rock ledge; frequently among fronds of bird’s-nest fern. They lay a clutch of 1-2 eggs, though only one chick survives. The incubation period is 28–29 days. The nestling period is 42 days.