Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata)

Common breeding resident distributed throughout the country in forests, cultivation and wooded areas of cities and villages while becoming uncommon in higher hills. Sights of Brown Hawk Owls sitting on lamp or telephone posts, TV antennas during nights are not uncommon in most urban and suburban areas with some trees even in and around Colombo. Brown Hawk Owl can be easily identified by its distinctive loud call which sounds like koo-ook, koo-ook heard especially on moonlit nights. It is a nocturnal bird and feeds on insects takes on the wing.  The breeding season is from March to April and again in November. It lays 2-3 eggs in a tree cavity.