This is the most common
and widespread of the Fish-Owls. These owls have spines on the bottoms of their toes to enable seizing slippery
fish. Four subspecies are recognized. Bird in India are the larger and paler K. z. leschenaulti. Some
authors include this and the other Asian Fish-Owls with the Eagle-Owls in the genus Bubo. However recent
genetic studies have confirmed their placement with the African Fish-Owls in the genus Ketupa characterized
by floppy ear-tufts and unfeathered legs. Strickland revised Horsfield's original spelling "Ketupu" stating
"It is better not to introduce barbarous names into science; but when done, they should at least have a Latin
termination given them." Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. References:
Ali, S & SD Ripley (1987). Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Edition 2. Oxford University Press.
Holt, D.W., Berkley, R., Deppe, C., Enríquez Rocha, P., Petersen, J.L., Rangel Salazar, J.L., Segars, K.P., Wood, K.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2016). Brown Fish-owl (Ketupa zeylonensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55024 on 5 September 2016).
Jobling, J. A. (2016). Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2016). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com).
Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. (2012) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution. Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions, Washington. D.C., Michigan & Barcelona.