Tawny Owls

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Scientific name:  Strix aluco

Size:  Up to 40cm

Distribution:  Found throughout England, Scotland and Wales, but absent from Northern Ireland

Months seen:  All year round

Habitat:  Parks, gardens and wooded areas

Food:  Small birds and mammals

Special features:  Tawny Owls are sometimes called Brown Owls because of their colouring, or Wood Owls because of their favoured habitat.  They are nocturnal birds, and during the day rest up in wooded areas, well camouflaged against the brown coloured tree bark.

The call of the tawny owl sounds something like "to-wooo" or sometimes "hoooouh.....ho, hohohohoooouh".  This call is used by both males and females to attract each other, but it's more usually the male you will hear.

There is also a shorter call which sounds something like "kee-wick". This is used as an alarm call.

The tawny owl is equipped with wing feathers which are extremely soft at the edges. This allows it to fly silently and surprise its prey.  Tawny Owls swallow their food items whole and later regurgitate a pellet containing all the indigestible bones, teeth and fur.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Owl Section
• UK Safari Bird Section
• What's Out Now?