It is the largest native owl and extinct in large areas of Central Europe. The eagle owl is just as flexible as the choice of where it lives in putting together its diet. It depends entirely on the available food supply. Eagle owls need a comparatively long time before they can hunt independently. In reintroduction projects it is therefore important to ensure that the birds are not younger than 5 months. Before that time they are not yet fully mastered in hunting. The mortality rate among the young birds is very high. Characteristic are the large eyes with orange-red irises.
The eagle owl hunts mostly at dusk and dawn.