One of the largest of the owls, genus Bubo, family Strigidae, order Strigiformes, represented in all parts of the world except Australia. There are 12 species of which the Eurasian eagle owl, Bubo bubo, is the most common and best known. It is solitary, has small earflaps, two tufts or feathered horns on its head, and its legs are feathered to the toes.