Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus, also known as the giant eagle-owl, photographed on a night drive at Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, Africa. According to the photographer, this bird has "pretty pink eyelids"!
Image: Dan Logen, 26 January 2010 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D300, 200-400 mm lens at 400, ISO 500, f/4, 1/60 sec, flash.
Question: A cousin to this species appears in the Harry Potter films as the "Post Owl" employed by one of the characters. Can you identify this species and its cousin and tell me which character employs that owl?
Response: This is a Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus, also known as the giant eagle-owl. This bird is a close relative to the Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo. The Eurasian eagle-owls (there were more than one trained for the role) that appear as the "Post Owl" in the Harry Potter films is employed by Harry's rival, Draco Malfoy.
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