The sashimi-loving, Sri Lankan aunty of Wilpattu
Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis)
Wilpattu National Park
They dined on mice, and slices of fish,
Which they ate with a feet spoon;
And wing in wing, on the edge of the trees,
They watched by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They watched by the light of the moon.
Fun Facts
Ever wondered what that dark silhouette is, silently watching you from afar, and possibly judging your every move? The brown fish owl’s unmistakable yellow circles in their eyes, which stand out like the moon in the night sky, lives to stalk and idiomatically-speaking, watches you like a hawk!
Lesser-known Facts
The brown fish owl is endemic to Sri Lanka and can be found watching in wildlife parks and jungles, but has also been spotted people-watching in residential areas on rare occasions. Named after its primary diet, the brown fish owl loves its raw fish and hunts by gliding over the water and grabbing a bento box with its feet! Not too picky, it also enjoys appetisers of rodents and other small creatures.
Whereabouts
A small population in National Parks make this bird an especially rare sighting, although perhaps it sees you more and not vice versa! If you know where to look, you might catch them on matured tree branches where the land is free from vegetation. Our Eco Team Naturalists have recorded them tourist-watching around each of our campsites at Yala, Udawalawe and Wilpattu.
