Overview
As dusk settles over open grassland, the marsh owl begins to hunt. Flying low and silently above the vegetation, it watches and listens for rodents, insects and other small prey moving below.
Despite its name, the marsh owl is not restricted to wetlands. It also inhabits tall grassland, flooded plains, open savannah and cultivated areas where suitable cover and prey are available. Its movements can be nomadic, with birds appearing or disappearing as rainfall, vegetation and rodent numbers change.
Its mottled brown plumage allows it to disappear into dry grass during the day. Although widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, it can be difficult to find unless seen hunting around dusk or accidentally flushed from a daytime roost.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a medium-sized owl with a rounded head, dark eyes and a pale facial disc edged in darker feathers. Its small ear tufts are usually flattened and may be almost impossible to see. In flight, the long wings show pale panels and contrasting darker markings.
Marsh owls usually hunt by flying slowly and close to the ground, listening for movement before dropping onto prey. They are most active around dusk and dawn, but may hunt during daylight, especially while feeding chicks or when prey is particularly abundant.
Their diet changes with local conditions. Rodents are often important, but insects and other invertebrates can form a large part of the diet when especially plentiful.
Interesting facts
They are not limited to marshes. Marsh owls also use dry grassland and open savannah, particularly where prey and suitable ground cover are available.
They may hunt in daylight. Although mainly active around twilight and at night, breeding birds may extend their hunting into daylight to provide enough food for their chicks.
Several marsh owls may roost together. Outside the breeding season, loose communal roosts can form in areas of tall grass with plentiful prey.