AFRICAN GRASS-OWL
Tyto capensis
isiKhova, umShwelele (Zulu) Grasuil (Afrikaans)
HABITAT
Found throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal in tall gras usually near water, vleis and
marshes. It is usually nocturnal but sometimes hunts by day.
TYPE
A medium sized owl similar to the Barn Owl but dark brown above and white on heart shaped
face and on breast which can be washed buff or brown.
The eyes are brown and ringed with dark circles which makes them appear very big. The bill is
white and the feet are yellowish pink.
BREEDING
They nest between October and July in KwaZulu-Natal, making a flattened pad of grass at the
end of a grassy tunnel in a dense tuft of grass. It is usually connected to other forms by a
network of tunnels through the grass. The clutch is usually five white eggs.
FOOD
The food consists mostly of rodents but also other small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and
insects. They hunt by quartering low over the grass, dropping suddenly onto the prey.
STATUS
The Red Data Book lists them as Probably Vulnerable and they are uncommon to rare and
declining in number due to habitat loss.
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