Facts About Pharaoh Eagle-Owl Part 02

Pair Bonding For Life

🦉 1. Pair Bonding Outside Breeding Season

Pharaoh Eagle-Owls form strong, long-term pairs, and it’s common to see them together outside the breeding season (which in the UAE usually peaks between February and April).

• The calling you heard is most likely pair communication — reinforcing their bond and maintaining their shared territory.

• This pre-breeding behavior often starts months before nesting, especially when temperatures drop and nights lengthen.

🗣️ 2. Territorial & Contact Calls

One owl (often the male) calls to declare or defend a territory, while the second (usually the female) stays perched nearby or responds with softer calls.

• The deeper call usually belongs to the male.

• The higher-pitched reply is typically the female.
  Their duet helps strengthen the pair connection and also warns other owls to stay out of their area.

🪶 3. Early Season Behavior (Pre-Nesting)

From October to December, you might start seeing:

• Increased calling activity, especially at dusk or dawn.

• Pairs roosting near potential nesting cavities or rocky ledges.

• Occasional food sharing (male bringing prey to the female as practice for the nesting period).

So even though they’re not breeding yet, they’re re-establishing territory and strengthening their bond ahead of the season.

🌙 4. What to Watch For Next

Over the coming weeks, keep an eye out for:

• Both owls returning to the same roosting area frequently.

• Mutual preening or sitting closer together (a strong sign of pair bonding).

• Increased vocal activity around sunset — this usually means they’ve chosen a nearby nesting site.