The European Eagle Owl is the largest owl in Europe. These raptors are about 27 inches (69 centimeters) long and males are smaller than females. Females can weigh about nine pounds (between 2,280 and 4,200 grams), though males usually weigh just over half this. Normally a female European Eagle Owl's wing is about 19 inches (48 centimeters) long, and a male's wing is about 18 inches (45 centimeters) long. Both sexes have mottled feathers. Brown, gray, and white are the predominant colors. The upper parts of the European Eagle Owl have a buff colored base over which darker markings are speckled. The neck sports several dark stripes all around the neck, and the shoulders and back of the owl tend to have larger dark splotches, while the dark markings on the head are smaller in size. The large ear tufts, that the owl can raise or lower, are very dark brown. The inside of the ear tuft shows a buff colored band, often with darker speckling, that runs down above the inner eye to the base of the owl's beak. The buff face is speckled with darker colors more heavily along the edges, so that it is framed with brown. European Eagle Owls have white chins and necks, and often this coloration bleeds down into the breast. The remainder of the underside of the bird is buff, marked with wavy dark lines. The upper tail coverts and the lower back are similarly colored, though darker speckling is also evident. The tail itself is a bit darker in color, though the pattern is basically the same. Six very dark brown bars delineate the tail. The eyes of European Eagle Owls are orange or yellow. Its beak and talons are large and black. The legs of the European Eagle Owl are feathered in buff plumage with faint wavy dark stripes.
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The European Eagle Owl is the largest owl in Europe. These raptors are about 27 inches (69 centimeters) long and males are smaller than females. Females can weigh about nine pounds (between 2,280 and 4,200 grams), though males usually weigh just over half this. Normally a female European Eagle Owl's wing is about 19 inches (48 centimeters) long, and a male's wing is about 18 inches (45 centimeters) long. Both sexes have mottled feathers. Brown, gray, and white are the predominant colors. The upper parts of the European Eagle Owl have a buff colored base over which darker markings are speckled. The neck sports several dark stripes all around the neck, and the shoulders and back of the owl tend to have larger dark splotches, while the dark markings on the head are smaller in size. The large ear tufts, that the owl can raise or lower, are very dark brown. The inside of the ear tuft shows a buff colored band, often with darker speckling, that runs down above the inner eye to the base of the owl's beak. The buff face is speckled with darker colors more heavily along the edges, so that it is framed with brown. European Eagle Owls have white chins and necks, and often this coloration bleeds down into the breast. The remainder of the underside of the bird is buff, marked with wavy dark lines. The upper tail coverts and the lower back are similarly colored, though darker speckling is also evident. The tail itself is a bit darker in color, though the pattern is basically the same. Six very dark brown bars delineate the tail. The eyes of European Eagle Owls are orange or yellow. Its beak and talons are large and black. The legs of the European Eagle Owl are feathered in buff plumage with faint wavy dark stripes.