Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Verreaux's Eagle-OwlVerreaux's Eagle-OwlVerreaux's Eagle-OwlVerreaux's Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Bubo lacteus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Virunga National Park
105 Verified records at Virunga National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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% of wildlife watchers report a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 105 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Virunga National Park

Spotted Eagle-Owl
LC

Spotted Eagle-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Bubo africanus

<5% · Rare
Fraser's Eagle-Owl
LC

Fraser's Eagle-Owl

Bird

Bubo poensis

Insufficient data
Grayish Eagle-Owl
LC

Grayish Eagle-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Bubo cinerascens

Insufficient data
African Wood-Owl
LC

African Wood-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Strix woodfordii

<5% · Rare
Red-chested Owlet
LC

Red-chested Owlet

Bird

Glaucidium tephronotum

<5% · Rare
Pearl-spotted Owlet
LC

Pearl-spotted Owlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Glaucidium perlatum

<5% · Rare
African Scops-Owl
LC

African Scops-Owl

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Otus senegalensis

Insufficient data
Common Barn-Owl
LC Endemic

Common Barn-Owl

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Tyto alba

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
5–10
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
2 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
3 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
4 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
5 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
6 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
7 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
8 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
9 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
10 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
11 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
12 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
13 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
14 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
15 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
16 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
17 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
18 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
19 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
20 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
5–10%
21 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
22 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
23 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
24 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
5–10%
25 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
26 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
27 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
28 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
29 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
30 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
31 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
32 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
33 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
34 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
35 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
36 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
37 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
38 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
39 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
40 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
41 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
42 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
43 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
44 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
45 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
46 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Virunga National Park?

About 2% of wildlife watchers report a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 105 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Virunga National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Virunga National Park in our monthly data.

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