Mackinder's (or Kenyan) Eagle Owl

The Kenyan, or Mackinder’s eagle owl, is a subspecies of the eagle owl. Mackinder’s eagle owls in central Kenya are generalist predators capable of exploiting an agricultural niche that is devoid of most other predators.  

This is a large owl, (the largest of the eagle owls), though intermediate in size among other large Bubo owls. Its total length ranges from 46 to 61 cm (18 to 24 in). Males weigh from 905 to 1,387 g (1.995 to 3.058 lb) while the larger females range from 1,240 to 1,800 g (2.73 to 3.97 lb).[4] The wing chord measures 34.3–41.8 cm (13.5–16.5 in) while the tail measures 15.5–26.6 cm (6.1–10.5 in). This owl is dark brown above with prominent ear-tufts and yellow or yellowish-orange eyes. It is dark below with the sides of the breast being blotchy brown and the paler chest overlaid with white, black and tawny-fulvous markings, variously. The facial disc is fulvous-brown, with a distinct black or dark brown frame that becomes broader towards the neck. Both the tail and wing feathers are barred with light and dark brown. The toes and tarsi are densely feathered, with the little visible skin being brown above and yellowish below the feet.

The song of the male Cape eagle-owl consists of a powerful, explosive hoot, followed by a faint note: boowh-hu.[4] The female’s voice is similar but slightly higher pitched. Pairs on occasion will duet. When alarmed, both sexes let out a barking wack wack wack.

All cape eagle-owls are nocturnal, roosting by day among rocks, in sheltered rock ledges, or in large rock crevices and caves. They may also roost in trees or even on the ground amongst dense bushes.[4] They have been rarely found roosting in cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria. Often a male and female can be found roosting together, especially just before the breeding season. They have very large feet and are much larger than other cape eagle owls. The MacKinder’s as a species grows larger the further they are found from the equator.

The predominant prey for the species is mammals. These can range in size from shrews and small rodents to animals the size of hares which are heavier than the birds themselves.[3][6] Other important prey can include other birds, up to the size of francolins and hamerkops. Opportunistically, the Cape eagle-owl will supplement its diet with reptiles, frogs, scorpions, crabs and large insects. Mole rats are locally often a favorite prey item and 1 to 3 mole rats can be taken each night during the breeding season.[3] A pair with half-grown chicks requires about 600–750 g (1.32–1.65 lb) per night. Hunts are from prominent perches, with the owl gliding in descending flight after prey and killing them with their powerful talons or bill. Research by Simon Thompsett of the Kenya Bird Of Prey Trust has shown that the owls consume a wide variety of prey, 87% mammals, 7% birds and 5% insects.  Farming practices are influencing both prey selection and abundance of Mackinder’s eagle owls.  Owls respond to numerical fluctuations in small mammals and may play an important role in controlling farm pests.  Irrigated farms provide owls with a year-round food source.  However, diet diversity of this population of owls is high and this may have negative long-term consequences for owl productivity and some farming practices continue to threaten this population, particularly the poisoning of owl prey with pesticides.