The same Eagle Owl female as on the main Eagle Owl page. This photo shows her demeanor more accurately.

Because she is such a beautiful bird, and this is such a nice photo of her we used this one for our home page when you entered the site.

Here she is again, while eating. This superb photo shows her third or inner eyelids on both eyes as she swallows. Also her tongue is clearly visible. (Narrow white tongue below the food) Note how the tongue works like a small narrow garden tool to shovel the food into her throat. The flat top surface of her tongue pushes the food upwards where the back of it has a "V" shaped notch which grabs the food pushing it backwards for the swallow.

Eagle owls are able to swallow quite large chunks of meat. Their esophagus stretches out like a pair of pantyhose. If the food can get into her throat it goes on down in a single swallow, often with the head stretching up to accommodate this. When her stomach is full if you dared to put your hand under her belly between her legs, (not recommended) you would feel the food in a lump like a small softball in size. This mouthful is complete with bones which will be ejected later mixed with fur or feathers in a "pellet", which is how she cleans her stomach out.

An inquisitive male Eagle Owl looks at the photographer who is taking his picture through the peep hole. "Hey when am I getting moved to my new metal aviary bub?"

The same male Eagle Owl, before he noticed that he was being spyed on by the photographer through the peep hole.

In the above two photos, we see a young Eurasian Eagle Owl at 3 weeks of age which had to be hand raised. The mother makes a "Bupp bupp bupp" sound to the young to encourage feeding, and moistens the food with her saliva. We substituted that with a special saline solution.

The same Young "Bupper" (Eagle Owl) 6 weeks later. Once this "Bupper" was beyond a certain age, he was never exposed to the "hand that fed him" this was done to prevent him from becoming imprinted to humans. He also had to be exposed regularly to his own kind so that he would know he was an Eagle Owl, and could breed once adult. For this photo a strange hooded 'creature' has slid up the door of the box he was sitting in, and lifted it away depositing him on the table, and after disapearing behind a wall this photo was taken. Hence the odd expression on "Bupper's" face.

Eurasian Eagle Owl -Young of 2002 Photos

Return to the Eurasian Eagle Owl page

Return to the Species Showcase List

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