Through most of sub-Saharan Africa the spotted eagle owl (Bubo africanus) is the common large horned owl, occurring in most habitats except extreme desert and thick tropical rainforest. Very similar to the great horned owl (B. virginianus), it is slightly smaller than its American cousin, and less likely to take large prey, usually preferring a diet of rodents, lizards and insects. In the background a small party of spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) scouts the savanna.