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This large owl with the distinctive face, large forward-facing eyes, horns and deep resonant call is associated with a number of superstitions. Like many other large owls, these are considered birds of ill omen. Their deep haunting calls if delivered from atop a house are considered to forebode the death of an occupant. A number of rituals involving the capture and killing of these birds have been recorded. Salim Ali notes a wide range of superstitions related to them but notes two as being particularly widespread. One is that if the bird is starved for a few days and beaten, it would speak like a human, predicting the future of the tormentor or bringing them wealth while the other involves the killing of the bird to find a lucky bone that moved against the current like a snake when dropped into a stream.Belief in these superstitions has led to the persecution of the species in many areas by tribal hunters. The capture of these birds is illegal under Indian law but an underground market continues to drive poaching.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). Female on the nest.

A closeup shot of an owl with brown eyes. Fauna concept

Bird's nest on bare tree branches bottom view. Bottom view of tree tops silhouettes with nest against blue sky in early spring or winter. Selective focus. Horizontal format. Low angle shot.

A rock eagle owl swoops down with its talons stretched out.

The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), close-up of a young bird in the zoo, Ukraine

$L 59-73cm, WS 138-170cm.\nResident in mountains an forests, preferring areas with rocks, steep cliffs and mature trees (preferably conifers); often in rocky archipelagos. Scattered distribution, generally rare and local.\nNocturnal and partly crepuscular. Day roost in dense mature spruces or firs, or in cave or crevice.\nFood mammals (voles, rats, hedgehogs, hares) and birds (corvids, gulls, wildfowl).\nNests on inaccessible cliff-edge or less often on the ground by rock, uprooted tree or among boulders, exceptionally in abandoned raptor’s nest or n barn, abandoned factory, etc.\nIn spite of its size and its impressive claws is by and large a non-violent and retiring owl near its nest, and aggressive behaviour toward humans is rare.\n\nThis is a scarce owl in the eastern and Southern part of the Netherlands and is mostly breeding in abandoned Quarries.\n\nThis Picture is made at a Birds of Prey Farm near Lunteren (Gelderland, the Netherlands).$

Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) sitting high up in a tree in a forest during winter. The bird of prey is resting and looking around in the woodland in Overijssel, Netherlands.

Long eared owl nesting (Asio otus) Owl in nest

$Spotted Eagle-Owl.\nThe spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 cm (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species.$

$Magellanic Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus) adult perched on ledge on cliff\$

Two yoùng tawny owls (Strix aluco) are looking out of a nesting box.

Adult great grey owl, strix nebulosa sitting at his nest in a pine tree, Norrbotten province, Sweden

Daytime front view close-up of a single majestic Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo Bubo) with spread wings upwards taking off from a bark towards, and looking at, the camera - sky and trees in the background [series 1/3]

Great Horned Owl Fledgling nestled in a tree. The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large Owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.

A bird nest on leafless tree in early Spring on sunny day - nature wildlife background

$Breeds in colonies (rookeries) in agricultural areas. Builds loose stick nests close together in crowns of tree clumps near farms, parks, highway sides and in villages; in spring, before trees in leaf, nests like large witches brooms.\nForages in flocks on ploughed fields, on pasture and along ditch sides, often accompanied by Jackdaws.\nRelative bold where not persecuted. Omnivore, but takes mostly insects and earthworms.\nMigratory in far NE.\n\nThis Crow is relative scarce in the Netherlands, except the North and South, where the Habitats are still intact.$

An enormous, grayish owl with dark stripes framing the face. It has a pale,-horn-colored beak and large, dark eyes that are set off by weird and diagnostic fleshy-pink eyelids. Occurs from arid savanna to mesic woodland to riverine forest; prefers areas with some tall trees for breeding and roosting. Hunts medium-sized mammals; has been known to kill competitors, such as Pel’s Fishing-Owl. Its call, a deep guttural grunting “unngh-unngh”, is diagnostic.

Rufous Hornero bird's nest made of clay on a tree branch.

Great Horned Owl sitting on a nest at Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island.

Squirrel nest in leafless tree on cold sunny day.

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