Geographical distribution: Bubo bubo has world-wide distribution, specially found in India, Pakistan and Myanmar.
Habit and habitat: Bubo bubo is a nocturnal bird, living in woody places and avoids heavy forests. It feeds on small mammals, rodents, birds, lizards and other animals. It hides in retreat during the day.
Comments:
1. Commonly called the great horned owl. In Hindi it is known as Ghughu or ulloo.
2. It is a fierce looking large owl with large rounded head, huge orange gold eyes and long horns or ears and nostril. Plumage soft textured.
3. Body divided into head, back, neck, breast and abdomen.
4. Bird is heavily built with dark brown back mottled and spotted with buff. The dark brown underside is Streaked. Beak is short, sharp and curved and adapted for tearing and piercing.
5. Eyes are large, yellow and forwardly directed, each in a disk of radial feathers. Wings folded over the body.
6. Ear opening is large, often with a flap-like cover. sometimes asymmetrical.
7. Legs are fully feathered. Feet adapted for grasping; claws sharp.
8. Nesting season November to April.
Special features: Bubo bubo is of great economic value to mankind by destroying harmful animals like rats and mice and these birds need careful protection. Soon after sunset, they produce deep soothing prolonged voice bubo. Mythologically owl is considered unauspicious. Academically Barnowl is very important Camillo Golgi described Golgi body from nerve net of this owl.
Identification: Since this bird has large forwardly directed eyes and above features, hence it is Bubo.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
