any of several species of owls of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes). They live near water and eat fish as well as small mammals and birds. The several Asian species are of the genus Ketupa; the several African species are of the genus Scotopelia.

The brown fish owl (K. zeylonensis) ranges from the eastern Mediterranean to Taiwan and Japan. Pel's fishing owl (S. peli) ranges over most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is about 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 inches) long, brown above with barring, reddish yellow below with spots and V markings. It has a heavily feathered, round head without ear tufts.