Unlike its more familiar woodland relatives, this owl has adapted to life along rivers, lakes, and swampy forests, where it silently hunts for fish and aquatic creatures under cover of night. Found in central and western sub-Saharan Africa, especially in countries like Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Zambia, Pel’s fishing owl is rarely seen but deeply respected by those who know the rhythms of Africa’s rivers.
This owl’s appearance is striking: the body is covered in rich, warm orange-brown plumage with fine dark barring and speckles that help it blend into the bark and shadows of riverbank trees. Pel’s fishing owl has a bare face without ear tufts, unlike many owls, and its large dark eyes give it an intense, alert expression. Its legs are strong and partially bare, and its toes are equipped with rough, spiny soles—perfect for gripping slippery fish.
Pel’s fishing owl is entirely nocturnal and extremely well adapted to its watery environment. It typically hunts from a low branch overhanging water, sitting completely still and scanning the surface with its sharp eyes and ears. When it detects a fish or frog, it dives feet-first, skimming just above the water to snatch up its prey. Its diet mainly includes fish, frogs, crabs, and other aquatic animals, and it hunts by sound and sight, making very little noise—even in flight.
Despite its size and beauty, the Pel’s fishing owl is surprisingly elusive. During the day, it roosts high in trees, often close to the water but hidden by thick foliage. It is generally solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Their call is a low, booming hoot, sometimes described as “ooooo-hooo,” which can carry a long way over quiet water at night. These calls are one of the best ways to detect the presence of a Pel’s fishing owl in the wild.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Malawi
Mali
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
