Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2020
  4. October 30
  5. Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido, Japan
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido, Japan

October 30, 2020

Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido, Japan

© Martin Bailey/Offset by Shutterstoc

Who's there? The largest owl in the world

To get us in the Halloween mood, we're offering a seldom-seen sight—the Blakiston's fish owl. Considered the largest of all living owls—about the size of a fire hydrant with a 6-foot wingspan—it's among the rarest of owls, too. Experts estimate only a few thousand of these elusive birds remain, scattered in pockets of dense old-growth forests in northern Japan, the Russian Far East, northeastern China, and potentially North Korea.

Although it'll eat rodents, rabbits, and other small mammals, the Blakiston's fish owl feeds mainly on aquatic life, particularly fish, and seeks out waterways that don't freeze during the bitterly cold winters of its range. Rather than swoop in silently on its prey like most owls, this fish owl often takes a more earth-bound approach, walking along the forest floor to find a good fishing spot, then perching on the bank, and waiting—just like any good angler would. When it sees a fish, it pounces, grabbing the prey with its talons and popping back out of the water to eat.

For more mysterious sightings, be sure to check out our Halloween homepage tomorrow.

animal bird tree outdoor bird of prey wildlife

Related Images

Sea otter floating in a kelp bed in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeSea otter floating in a kelp bed in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
A Julia butterfly on the nose of a yellow-spotted river turtle, Amazon Region, EcuadorA Julia butterfly on the nose of a yellow-spotted river turtle, Amazon Region, Ecuador
Great green macaw, MexicoGreat green macaw, Mexico
Leopard mother grooming her cub, Jao Reserve, BotswanaLeopard mother grooming her cub, Jao Reserve, Botswana
Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, NevadaDonkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada
Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, BrazilStriated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Impala with red-billed oxpecker in Moremi Game Reserve, BotswanaImpala with red-billed oxpecker in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland IslandsMagellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands

Today on Bing

View of Edinburgh Castle from a churchyard in Scotland

View of Edinburgh Castle from a churchyard in Scotland

Oct 30, 2024
Common raven sitting on a branch

Common raven sitting on a branch

Oct 30, 2023
Polar bear at the edge of Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada

Polar bear at the edge of Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada

Oct 30, 2022
Misty pine forest in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Misty pine forest in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Oct 30, 2021
Charles Bridge over the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic

Charles Bridge over the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic

Oct 30, 2019

Related Tags

animal outdoor bird colorful grass water yellow parrot deer antelope otter reptile tortoise turtle sea turtle pond turtle trachemys pseudemys concinna concinna feather hummingbird
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.