Marsh Owl

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Asio capensis

The Marsh Owl inhabits wetlands, covered by reeds and sedges, and tall grasslands, occasionally venturing into areas of thorny savanna, and are quite nomadic. Where it occurs it is seen more easily than most other kinds of owls as they are often active from early dusk till well after first light, especially when feeding chicks. They’re also much more social than others of their kind and may congregate in groups of more than 50 birds outside of the breeding season. Marsh Owls hunt mostly on the wing, gliding low to the ground and taking prey ranging in size from termites and snails to bats, rodents, snakes, lizards, frogs and birds up to the size of pigeons. They often store their captured prey in a larder to consume later.

Marsh Owls nest in shallow depressions on the ground, well hidden at the base of dense vegetation, usually during the dry season. They form monogamous pairs and the female takes sole responsibility for incubation of the clutch of 2-6 eggs while the male brings her food at the nest. The chicks stay in the nest for only about two-and-a-half weeks, even though they won’t be able to fly for several weeks more, staying well hidden in dense vegetation at ground level until they fledge. They probably remain dependent on their parents until they’re about 3 months old. Fully grown Marsh Owls measure about 35cm in length and weigh approximately 300g.

The IUCN considers the Marsh Owl to be of least concern. It is widely distributed in Madagascar and east, central and southern Africa, with isolated populations on various parts of West Africa and Morocco. Here in South Africa they’re mainly found in the grasslands of the Highveld (Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West) where the Rietvlei Nature Reserve on Pretoria’s southern outskirts is an excellent location to find and view them.

Marsh Owl in flight (photo by Joubert)
Marsh Owl in flight
Marsh Owl hunting over a wetland
Marsh Owl – bird being cared for at Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre
Marsh Owl
Marsh Owl

16 thoughts on “Marsh Owl”

  3. Una se gedagtes

    Ai DeWet, ons het drie verskillende uil-soorte hier, ek luister elke aand en veral in die oggende na hul geroep. Maar sowaar, ek het nog nie een te sien gekry nie!🙈🙉

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    Reply ↓
      1. Una se gedagtes

        Ek het vanoggend op ñ voël app probeer agterkom watter uile ons hoor, maar die een wat ons die meeste hoor kom nie onder die 10 bekendste Afrika uile voor nie! So vreemd. Ek sal nog bietjie rondsoek.

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