The Himalayas, is a mountain range which separates the Great Indian Plains from the Tibetan Plateau. This range is home to nine of the ten highest peaks on the Earth, including the highest, Mount Everest. The abrupt rise of the Himalayan Mountains from less than 500 meters to more than 8,000 meters in a few hundred kilometers has resulted in a huge diversity of flora and fauna. Nearly 1000 birds have been recorded in the Himalayas of which 15 species are fully endemic.
The tawny fish owl (Bubo flavipes) is found in subtropical to temperate forests in India, Bangladesh, Bhulan, China, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam. They inhabit the Himalayan foothills from Kashmir and Garhwal east to the mountains of Laos and Vietnam and in southern China, In areas such as Darjeeling and Nepal, they commonly due at elevations of 1,500 to 2,450 m (4.S20 to 8,040 ft). The tawny fish owl is at least partially diurnal in activity, with daytime activity mainly occurring in the late afternoon and they may he seen actively hunting before nightfall especially on cloudy days. However, before the afternoon they tend to be sluggish during the day. If disturbed or threatened, these owls tend to sit tight and not take flight. Like most owls, they usually choose inconspicuous perches during the day to avoid detection.
IUCN Status: Least Concern (1C) Photo: Soumyajit Nandi