Animalia Life

Bubo blakistoni
SUBFAMILY
Striginae, Tribe Bubonini
TAXONOMY
Bubo blakistoni Seebolm, 1884, Japan. Four subspecies are recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Blakiston’s fish-owl; French: Grand-duc Blakiston; German: Riesenfischuhu; Spanish: Bъho Manchъ.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
23.6–28.3 in (60–72 cm). One of the world’s largest owls, it has a pale gray-brown facial disc, broad, horizontal ear tufts, yellow- orange eyes, and a white throat. Upperparts are buffbrown with darker streaks. Underparts are lighter buff-brown with thin, darker streaks. The legs are feathered almost to the base of the dark gray-brown toes.
DISTRIBUTION
Western Manchuria, eastern Siberia, far northeast China, Sakhalin Island, Hokkaido, and southern Kuril Islands.
HABITAT
Dense forests along rivers and sometimes on sea coast.
BEHAVIOR
Sedentary. Highly territorial. Forages mainly at night or at dusk, but sometimes during the day.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Primarily fish, but also crustaceans, frogs, birds, and small mammals. Relies on areas of clear, slower moving water to hunt. Takes prey from a perched position or even wading in the water.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nests in large holes in trees and broken branches, and also sometimes on the ground in tree roots or cavities. Normally lays two eggs. Incubation is 35–37 days. Young leave the nest at 35–40 days, but remain with their parents for several months.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered. One of the world’s rarest owls, its population has declined precipitously since the 1950s. Major threats include
HABITAT
destruction due to riverside development and deforestation. Depletion of the fish on which it depends for food (due to overfishing) also has a negative impact on the species. Attempts at captive breeding have been unsuccessful.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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