As an opportunistic hunter, the eagle owl is as surprising to its investigators as it is to its prey. The eagle owl ambushes crows, birds of prey and owls at their roosts, after first observing them for some time from a covered vantage point. The eagle owl can sit quietly for hours 'roosting' on a lookout until a large prey comes crawling along. In a diving flight, the owl will then usually grab the prey by the neck skin to strip it of feathers and skin at the plucking site. Hedgehogs are skillfully stripped of their prickly coat; the eagle owl "peels" hedgehogs from their skin using a still unknown technique. Because of its long claw nails, the hedgehog's prickly coat hardly harms the eagle owl. The eagle owl is even capable of hitting young foxes and dragging them to the picking place while flying. In lean times the eagle owl can also live on carrion for a long time. There seems to be a clear preference for cervids, such as red deer and roe deer.
"Passion for Light
I am Wilbert Heijkoop and I am 35 years old. I have a great passion for nature and wildlife photography. I really enjoy going out with the camera and capture amazing landscapes or special encounters with animals...
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Netherlands
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Germany
Germany
Netherlands