Marsh Owl
A species of Eared Owls Scientific name : Asio capensis Genus : Eared Owls
Marsh Owl, A species of Eared Owls
Botanical name: Asio capensis
Genus: Eared Owls
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Medium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin shaped head with small 'ear' tufts. The facial disc is pale buff, with a distinct dark brown rim with buff speckles. There is a dark brown area around the eyes, which are also dark brown. Its ear-tufts are earth-brown and quite small, often not visible, and set near the centre of the forehead. The tail is dark brown, barred pale buff with a whitish tip. Tarsi are feathered pale tawny-buff and toes are covered with pale buffish plumes, leaving the dark brown tips bare. Claws are blackish. Males are generally paler then females, and there is some individual variation in tone. Length is 31–38 cm, wing length is 284–380mm, tail length is 132–186mm, and weight is 225–485g. 
Size
36 cm
Feeding Habits
Marsh Owl primarily consume small mammals like rodents, as well as insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. They forage alone or in pairs, often hunting nocturnally but also during dawn and dusk. Unique adaptations allow them to target a wide prey spectrum, from mice to small ducks.
Habitat
Marsh Owl is typically found in a variety of open habitats, including moist coastal grasslands, marshlands, montane grasslands at elevations up to 3000 m, rice fields, and lightly wooded savanna. This species avoids dense forests yet can adapt to nesting in open areas of cork oak forests. Marsh Owl has a strong preference for areas near water sources like vleis and dams, making its habitat susceptible to changes in rainfall patterns and human-induced alterations such as agriculture and overgrazing. Their habitat range encompasses broad geographical regions of grassland and scrub near marshy grounds, extending into dry grasslands and bushveld from sea-level up to 1500 m in Madagascar.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
The Marsh owl has a fragmented distribution. They are common in grasslands in Southern Africa, occurring in the northern regions of South Africa down to the province of the Eastern Cape. They are also found in Zimbabwe, on the Mashonaland plateau, and Botswana, in the Makgadikgadi lacustrine depression in Botswana. They have also been recorded on the floodplains on the Namibian coast and in isolated populations in Morocco and Madagascar.
Species Status
Marsh owls are not listed as vulnerable or endangered, but their population is on the decline mainly due to loss of habitat through urbanization. Marsh Owls commonly breed during the winter months when veld fires occur. They nest on the ground in habitat that typically includes marshes, savannas and grasslands. Farmers burn veld to stimulate the regrowth of vegetation for grazing, to prevent the encroachment of unwanted plants and weeds and to control ticks. Although veld fires are necessary for maintaining the grassland’s ecosystem, it should be limited to a 5 year cycle instead of an annual event. Irresponsible burning of veld robs wildlife from habitat and in the case of Marsh Owls it has a huge impact on their breeding and population.
