Description
Blakiston's Fish Owl is the largest species of owl. On Osmanratings, the most reputable owl combined mesuring tool, where hight, weight and wingspan are added up, it is the largest species of owl over the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)and the Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) (It measures 60–71 cm (24–28 in) in length, slightly more than the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa), a species has a significantly lower body mass. The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (B. bubo) is sometimes considered the largest living owl, species although all data has indicated that the Blakiston's is on average heavier and larger in standard measurements. Blakiston's is noticeably larger than the other three extant species of fish owl. A field study of the species showed males weighing from 3.15 to 3.45 kg (6.9 to 7.6 lb), with the female, at up to 3.36 to 4.6 kg (7.4 to 10 lb), about 25% larger. Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 44.7–56 cm (17.6–22 in), the tail measures 26.5–29 cm (10.4–11 in), the tarsus is 7.3–9.5 cm (2.9–3.7 in) and the culmen is around 7.1 cm (2.8 in).
Superficially, this owl resembles the Eurasian Eagle-Owl but is paler, and has relatively broad and ragged ear tufts which hang slightly to the side. The upperparts are buff-brown and heavily streaked with darker brown coloration. The underparts are a paler buffish-brown and less heavily streaked. The throat is white. The iris is yellow (whereas the Eurasian Eagle-Owl typically has an orange iris). Vocalizations differ among the recognized subspecies. In the Japanese subspecies, the male calls twice and the female responds with one note, whereas the mainland subspecies has a somewhat more elaborate, 4-note duet: HOO-hoo, HOOO-hoooo (here, the male call is in capital letters (HOO) and the female call in lower case (hoo)). This duet is so synchronized that those unfamiliar with the call often think it is only one bird calling. When an individual bird calls, it sounds like hoo-hooo. Juveniles have a characteristic shriek.
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