The Malay eagle-owl is an unusual bird whose southeast Asian taxonomic relationships are still unresolved. The video below is that of a Malay eagle-owl who is obviously enjoying having his head scratched and seems to have learned that if if bats his big eyes then he will get more scratches.
The Barred or Malay Eagle Owl is a large, striking owl with barred underparts and very long, outward slanting ear-tufts. The species name "sumatranus" is the Latinised form of Sumatra, where the first specimen described was located.
Habits: The Barred Eagle Owl is a nocturnal or crepuscular bird. It roosts by day singly or in pairs, hidden in a lofty tree with dense foliage, often near the trunk.
Hunting & Food: Feeds on large insects, birds and small mammals and reptiles.
Breeding: This owl probably pairs for life, and pairs are very loyal to nest sites, returning year after year. Nests are in large tree holes, or commonly on the top of large Bird's Nest ferns. The female lays only one white oval egg (53.8-57.7mm x 42.8-44.9mm).
Habitat: Evergreen forest with ponds and streams, gardens with large, densely foliaged trees, groves in cultivated country, sometimes not far from habitation. Ranges from sea level to 1000m elevation, rarely higher to about 1600m.
Distribution: Southern Burma, Southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, Java and Bali. - Source: The Owl Pages
The Barred or Malay Eagle Owl is a large, striking owl with barred underparts and very long, outward slanting ear-tufts. The species name "sumatranus" is the Latinised form of Sumatra, where the first specimen described was located.
Habits: The Barred Eagle Owl is a nocturnal or crepuscular bird. It roosts by day singly or in pairs, hidden in a lofty tree with dense foliage, often near the trunk.
Hunting & Food: Feeds on large insects, birds and small mammals and reptiles.
Breeding: This owl probably pairs for life, and pairs are very loyal to nest sites, returning year after year. Nests are in large tree holes, or commonly on the top of large Bird's Nest ferns. The female lays only one white oval egg (53.8-57.7mm x 42.8-44.9mm).
Habitat: Evergreen forest with ponds and streams, gardens with large, densely foliaged trees, groves in cultivated country, sometimes not far from habitation. Ranges from sea level to 1000m elevation, rarely higher to about 1600m.
Distribution: Southern Burma, Southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, Java and Bali. - Source: The Owl Pages
VIDEO
Love the eyes!
This little guy is so precious...just wants lovin'!
This little guy is so precious...just wants lovin'!
This is cute! Makes me smile.Thanks.
Finally something positive. He is si friggin cute and they say animals don't feel emotion. I'm still smiling.
I have to say I have never seen anything like it.It is quite intriguing to watch a beautiful creature.Thank you for sharing. I loved it.
I think that is amazing. How he talks to her, while she is rubbing his head. What a beautiful animal.
Nice to see 'positively-loving-it' human-bird interaction! Many large birds like having their head and neck stroked, in bird pairing this happens frequently, parrots like it, cockatiels like it, parakeets like it, birds of prey like it, corvids like it, albatross and other large seabirds likes it...the list goes on. So when you are out walking spare a thought for our smaller feathered friends whom you might not see but are able to hear who do it too...