Atlas of nesting birds in Bulgaria

Eurasian Eagle Owl

(Bubo bubo)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 420 – 490 pairs

Distribution pattern

With dispersed to patchy distribution throughout country, more consistently in the Eastern Rhodopes, Strandzha, Eastern Stara Planina, and around Burgas, Lomovete, Western Stara Planina, and the mountains south of it, etc. The distribution is, to some extent, influenced by the development and by the closing of stone quarries, thanks to which the species breeds in otherwise unsuited regions.

Big size map

Breeding distribution 2013 – 2020 – The distribution and the estimation of the population size of the species for the period 2013 – 2020 is presented –

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in valleys and other rocky areas close to pastures, water bodies and settlements, most often on inland cliffs and exposed rocks, including near entrances of caves, along the Black Sea coast – and on steep rocky (sea) shores. In some areas (e.g. Strandzha), build their nests in broad-leaved deciduous forests as well as in abandoned quarries. In rare cases builds its nests in ruins and in old nests of diurnal birds of prey.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed