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A brown milky eagle owl perched on rocks above water.
Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Milky Eagle Owl

Bubo lacteus

One of the world's larger owls, also called Verreaux's eagle-owl, with bare pink eyelids that show when it blinks.

🦅 Birds of Prey
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About the Milky Eagle Owl

Milky eagle owls, also called Verreaux's eagle-owls, live across much of Africa, in savannas and open woodlands, except the northern deserts and densest forests. They hunt mostly at night and catch almost any small or medium-sized animal. Soft, hair-like edges on their feathers make their flight nearly silent, and huge eyes help them see in very low light.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Bubo lacteus[1]
Diet
Carnivore. Almost any small to medium-sized animal.[1]
Habitat
Savannas and open woodlands.[1]
Where it lives
Much of Africa, except the northern deserts and the densest forests.[1]
Group life
Pairs often stay together for years. Mostly active at night.[1]
Babies
Two eggs a year; usually one chick survives.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, Verreaux's eagle-owl, assessed 2016).[2]

Fun facts

  • The "ears" on top of an owl's head are feathers. Its real ears are hidden near its eyes.[1]
  • Soft feather edges make an owl's flight nearly silent.[1]
  • Owls bob their heads side to side to judge distance.[1]
  • Female milky eagle owls are generally larger than males.[1]

Vocabulary

nocturnal
Active at night and resting during the day.
talon
A sharp, curved claw on a bird of prey's foot.
depth perception
The ability to judge how far away something is.
ear tuft
A clump of feathers on an owl's head that looks like ears but isn't.
raptor
A bird of prey with sharp talons and a hooked beak.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Zoo Atlanta. “Milky Eagle Owl.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/milky-eagle-owl/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Bubo lacteus (Verreaux's Eagle-owl).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22688986/93212982 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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