Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Bubo lacteus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
- GenusBubo (Typical Eagle-Owls and Horned Owls)
- SpeciesBubo lacteus (Verreaux's Eagle-Owl)
Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a large owl of the genus Ketupa in the family Strigidae. It is the largest African owl, measuring up to 66 cm (26 in) in total length. Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, this eagle-owl is a resident primarily of dry, wooded savanna. The species is mainly grey in colour and is distinguishable by its bright pink eyelids, a unique feature not shared with any other owl species. Verreaux's eagle-owl is a highly opportunistic predator equipped with powerful talons. Just over half of its known diet is composed of mammals, but equal numbers of birds and even insects may be hunted locally, along with any other appropriately sized prey that is encountered. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 132 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Bubo africanus
Grayish Eagle-Owl
Bubo cinerascens
Sokoke Scops-Owl
Otus ireneae
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Glaucidium perlatum
African Wood-Owl
Strix woodfordii
African Barred Owlet
Glaucidium capense
African Scops-Owl
Otus senegalensis
Marsh Owl
Asio capensis
Southern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis granti
Eurasian Scops Owl
Otus scops
Common Barn-Owl
Tyto alba
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Tsavo East National Park?
About 7% of wildlife watchers report a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 132 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Tsavo East National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Tsavo East National Park in our monthly data.