Tyto longimembris
The Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris) is a strikingly elegant medium-sized owl belonging to the barn owl family, Tytonidae, closely related to the ubiquitous Barn Owl. It presents a ghostly appearance with a pristine white to pale buff underside, contrasting sharply with its dark brown to golden-buff upperparts, which are intricately spotted and streaked with black or dark brown. A distinctive, heart-shaped facial disc, white or pale buff and often rimmed with a darker buff, frames deep, ...
This species thrives in open, dense grasslands, swamps, marshes, and agricultural fields such as sugarcane plantations, primarily found in lowland and sometimes mid-elevation areas.
The Eastern Grass Owl feeds predominantly on small mammals, primarily rodents such as voles, mice, and shrews, supplemented with large insects and occasionally small birds; it hunts from low flight over open grasslands.
Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, the Eastern Grass Owl typically spends its days roosting in dense, tall vegetation, often creating intricate tunnel-like pathways within the grass for concealment and access to its ground nest. Its foraging strategy involves silent, low-level flight, quartering...
The Eastern Grass Owl boasts a wide but disjunct distribution across the Indo-Pacific region, with significant populations found throughout the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and various Pacific islands. Its breeding range extends from India and Sri Lanka, through southern Chin...
Least Concern
- The Eastern Grass Owl possesses some of the longest legs relative to body size among all Tyto owls, aiding its movement through dense grass. - Unlike most owls, it is a ground-nesting specialist, creating well-hidden scrapes or even short tunnels in thick vegetation. - Often referred to as the ...