LC
Spotted Eagle-owl Bubo africanus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Bubo milesi is recognised as a full species separate to B. africanus on multiple criteria following Collar and Boesman (2019). Previously, B. africanus (including milesi) and B. cinerascens were separated (del Hoyo and Collar 2014). Before this, all were previously included within B. africanus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). Often considered to include B. cinerascens as a subspecies, but the two differ in morphology and not known to interbreed where ranges overlap. Subspecies tanae perhaps only a pale variant, as is form described from Namibia (trothae). Two subspecies currently recognized.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2022. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Least Concern
2016 Not Recognised
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 10,000,000 km2
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 6.17 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be widespread and common, and only uncommon in Uganda and Kenya (del Hoyo et al. 1999, Holt et al. 2021).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Angola extant native yes
Botswana extant native yes
Burundi extant native yes
Congo extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native yes
Eswatini extant native yes
Gabon extant native yes
Kenya extant native yes
Lesotho extant native yes
Malawi extant native yes
Mozambique extant native yes
Namibia extant native yes
Rwanda extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes
Tanzania extant native yes
Uganda extant native yes
Zambia extant native yes
Zimbabwe extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Rural Gardens suitable resident
Desert Hot major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major resident
Savanna Dry major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 2100 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Work & other activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Spotted Eagle-owl Bubo africanus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/spotted-eagle-owl-bubo-africanus on 28/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 28/11/2024.