Fun Blakiston's Fish-owl Facts For Kids
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Have you ever wondered which is the largest owl species in the world? Well, no doubt it is the Blakiston's fish owl!
Native to China, northern Japan, South Korea, and northeastern Asia, including the Russian far east, the Blakiston's fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni or Bubo blakistoni) is quite a visual treat! The species has the usual facial disk, a characteristic of all owls, giving the birds a sort of flat-faced appearance.
The plumage on the face is tan and patterned with black streaks, and a thin row of white feathers makes for the eyebrow.
In addition, these owls have large and feathery ear tufts. The rest of the plumage on the body varies between dark and light shades of brown with characteristic yellowish and thin black stripes.
A feature that makes Ketupa blakistoni distinguishable from other species of owls is that it feeds exclusively on aquatic prey, particularly fish. Blakiston's fish owls usually prey on fish species such as trout, catfish, pike, and even larger ones like the salmon.
In winter, when rivers are frozen, the birds may also resort to hunting waterfowl and small mammals. The birds have also been reported to hunt on the ground and in shallow waters for frogs, crayfish, and other aquatic crustaceans.
As evident, the largest owl in the world requires year-round availability of open waters for hunting.
Hence, the usual habitat of the species includes coniferous and riverine forests, preferably along fast-flowing streams and rivers that do not entirely freeze into ice during the winter season. Sadly, hunting and large-scale habitat destruction are responsible for the Blakiston's fish-owl being recognized as an Endangered species in the IUCN Red List.
Read on to know more about these magnificent fish-eating species of owl! If you are interested to learn more about birds, do check out amazing and fun facts about the Amazon parrot and cockatoo.
Blakiston's Fish-Owl Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Blakiston's fish-owl?
Blakiston's fish-owl is a species of owl belonging to the Strigidae family of true owls.
What class of animal does a Blakiston's fish-owl belong to?
Blakiston's fish-owls belong to the class of birds.
How many Blakiston's fish-owls are there in the world?
As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, there are about 1,000-2,499 Blakiston's fish owls globally. A more recent study based in Russia suggests that globally, there are around 500-850 pairs or 1,000-1,500 individuals of the Blakiston's fish-owl.
Where does a Blakiston's fish-owl live?
The Blakiston's fish owls are found in northeastern Asia, particularly the Russian far east (eastern Siberia) and the Sakhalin Island. From there, the Blakiston's fish owl range extends southward to include northeastern China and South Korea.
The species' range also stretches to the Hokkaido Island situated to the north of Japan with coastlines to the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, and the Sea of Okhotsk.
What is a Blakiston's fish-owl's habitat?
Blakiston's fish-owls inhabit coniferous and riverine forests, especially those situated along fast-flowing streams or rivers. Since the species requires a supply of aquatic prey all year round, rivers and streams that do not freeze during the winter season are ideal.
In addition, the birds require large trees for nest cavities, and hence, are likely to be found in riverside forests and woodlands abundant with old-growth tree hollows.
Most of the woodlands they inhabit consist of mixed deciduous trees such as ash, elm, and maple or coniferous firs and spruce.
Supposedly, the large amount of wood debris in the rivers supplied by the trees increases the abundance of the owls' salmon fish prey. The birds are also known to forage on rocky coasts.
Who do Blakiston's fish-owls live with?
The Blakiston's fish-owls are mainly solitary, except for mating pairs.
How long does a Blakiston's fish-owl live?
Like other wild species of fish owls found in Asia, the Blakiston's fish-owls are believed to have a lifespan of 8-15 years or more.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season of Blakiston's fish-owls spans from early spring to summer (late February to mid-March), and they typically breed every two or three years. The nest is usually a large tree cavity, about 59 ft (18 m) above the ground.
Besides the tree cavity, the birds readily breed in nest boxes and fallen trees as well.
The egg-laying usually begins in early spring, with the female laying a clutch of about one to three eggs. The eggs are then incubated for around 35-37 days by the female, and during this time, the male will hunt for food and feed the female every night; the female occasionally leaves the nest to preen or defecate.
The young birds take about six weeks to reach full size and another week or so to fledge. Both the male and female parents are highly invested in caring for the young and share territories with their offspring for up to a year after the young birds are independent.
The Blakiston's fish-owl reaches sexual maturity in two to three years.
What is their conservation status?
As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Blakiston's fish owl is an Endangered Species.
Blakiston's Fish-Owl Fun Facts
What do Blakiston's fish-owls look like?
The Blakiston's fish-owl is the world's largest owl. Like most other species of owls, the Blakiston's fish owl has a typical facial disk comprising almost flattened feathers.
The feathers on the face are tan-colored with black stripes, and the eyebrows are basically thin rows of white feathers. The owl also has large and feathery ear tufts.
While the plumage on the underside of the body is light brown and marked with thin black stripes, the tail and wings are dark browns in color with buffish to yellowish stripes. The bill is curved, long, and the color may range from bluish-gray to brown. The legs are feathered in the front and end in black, large claws.
The species somewhat resembles the Eurasian eagle owl but has larger, ragged, slightly hanging ear tufts. Besides, the Blakiston's fish-owl is paler compared to the Eurasian eagle owl.
How cute are they?
The Blakiston's fish-owl is not really cute. It rather has a very serious and piercing look, giving the impression as if the bird is staring straight into your eyes. The body plumage and the feathery ear tufts make the birds look all bulked up.
How do they communicate?
The Blakiston's fish-owl call sounds like a 'shoo-hoo' or 'boo-boo-voo.' The adult male and female owls perform a duet comprising quick, successive calls.
For most populations, the male bird of the pair usually begins the duet, supplying the first and third notes. The female owl of the pair contributes the second and fourth notes of the duet.
The begging call of a young owl is typically a long and mumbly 'peer-peer-peer.' Besides the vocalizations, the Blakiston's fish-owl has strong senses of hearing and vision with physical features adapted to cater to the same.
For instance, the large and stationary eyes help the bird to capture enough light and hunt at night. On the other hand, the arrangement of feathers on the facial disk helps in gathering sound to increase the accuracy with which the owls detect the movement of prey.
How big is a Blakiston's fish-owl?
The Blakiston's fish-owls range in length between 23.6-28 in (60-71 cm). The wingspan can go up to 78.7 in (200 cm). They are more than twice the size of tawny owls.
How fast can a Blakiston's fish-owl fly?
An estimate of the flight speed of the Blakiston's fish owl is not available. However, they can fly down and catch fish with their powerful claws, indicating that they are quite the fliers!
How much does a Blakiston's fish-owl weigh?
Blakiston's fish owls range in mass between 6.6-8.8 lb (3-4 kg). They are about five times heavier than the average barn owl.
What are the male and female names of the species?
Male and female owls do not have special names.
What would you call a baby Blakiston's fish-owl?
Baby owls are called owlets.
What do they eat?
The primary food of the Blakiston's fish-owl consists of fish, including larger ones like salmon. Besides salmon, they also feed on pikes, catfish, and trout.
The birds also hunt in shallow water and on the ground for crayfish and frogs. When the river or stream in the region they inhabit freezes in winter, the owls often take to feeding on waterfowl and small mammals.
Are they poisonous?
The Blakiston's fish-owls are not known to be poisonous.
Would they make a good pet?
Owls do not make great pets. They are adapted to a wild lifestyle and have evolved to hunt and kill for food.
Did you know...
According to wildlife biologist and author Jonathan C. Slaght, the Blakiston's fish owl has the ability to catch fish twice or thrice their own weight. Jonathan Slaght is a world-renowned expert on the Blakiston's fish-owl.
How did the Blakiston's fish-owl get its name?
The name of the owl honors the English naturalist Thomas Blakiston who had collected the original specimen of the species in 1883 from the Hakodate region in the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan.
Is the Blakiston's fish-owl endangered?
The Blakiston's fish-owl is an Endangered species as per the IUCN Red List. In Japan and Russia, the birds' habitat includes timber-rich areas. As a result, habitat loss due to logging activities is one of the major threats to these owls. Poaching is also another reason why these birds are losing their existence.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including burrowing owl facts and Hawaiian hawk facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable giant scops owl coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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