Home › Aves › Strigidae › Pel's Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli)
SPECIES PROFILE
Pel's Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli)
Scotopelia
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Sub-Saharan riverine forests
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Riverine forest along large rivers
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Strigiformes
FAMILY
Strigidae
GENUS
Scotopelia
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 63 cm; wingspan 1.5 m
COLORATION
Rich ginger-rufous with fine barring and dark eyes
ADAPTATIONS
Bare legs and spiny toes to grip slippery fish snatched from the water
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Riverine forest along large rivers
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Sub-Saharan riverine forests
REPRODUCTION
One or two chicks
DIET DETAILS
Fish and frogs
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Riverine forest loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
A giant ginger owl that hunts fish, plucking them from the water with bare, spiny feet.
2
Its deep booming call is one of the classic night sounds of the Okavango.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Okavango Delta
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
May-October
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Drift quietly along tree-lined channels at dusk; listen for the deep booming hoot over the water.
