Photos by Barry Reed
One of the 3 owls of the Scotopelia genus, though there is disagreement if they should be separate from the other fish owls (Buffy, Tawny, BFO) of the Ketupa genus.
This rare owl is found in West Africa, only along rivers, where it hunts fish, freshwater crabs, and probably other yummy water creatures.
It is closely related to the larger and darker Pel's Fishing Owl, found in the same part of the world. They don't seen to compete, rather the Rufous takes the more shallow waters, and they deeper ones are used by the Pel's.
The RFO is 20 in / 50 cm, while the PFO is 25 in / 63 cm.
