Verreaux's Eagle Owl (also known as Milky Eagle Owl) The Milky Eagle Owl was first classified by the French naturalist brothers Verreaux in the early 19th century. This superb owl is a member of the order Strigidae-genus Bubo lacteus and is one of the largest of the world's owls. It's length is twenty six to twenty eight inches. The wingspan is up to six and one half feet and they average nine pounds. In appearance they are distinguished by a whitish oval disk face with a black border, pink eyelids, with a yellow cream upper coverings, when in breeding condition, with wonderful dark orange to black eyes and two feather tufts on their ears. Their feathers are dark brown on top and light grey below. The creamy lids which are a feature unique to this species. When it blinks there is a brief flash of white and it is thought that this may be used as a means of communication between these keen-eyed birds in low or no light conditions. They are nocturnal and not a great deal more is known about their behaviour..