Bird Guide

Mottled Owl vs Tawny Owl

Mottled Owl (Strix virgata)

Mottled Owl

Strix virgata

Medium284 gForest

The mottled owl is a medium-sized owl with adults reaching 280 to 355 mm (11 to 14 in) in length. Females are considerably larger than males; the mottled owl shows the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism of any species of owl. The crown, nape and back are mottled in several shades of darkish brown, the facial disc is pale brown and the throat, breast and belly are off-white with distinctive vertical brown streaks. The large eyes are brown, the beak is greyish-yellow or greyish-blue, and the legs and feet are greyish-yellow. There is a darker form of the bird with a buff breast and belly.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Mottled Owl
Recorded by Walter Correa · Song, nocturnal song · Ibagué, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia · CC BY 4.0
Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

Large472 gForest

The tawny owl is a robust bird, 37–46 cm (15–18 in) in length, with an 81–105 cm (32–41 in) wingspan. Weight can range from 385 to 800 g (0.849 to 1.764 lb). Its large rounded head lacks ear tufts, and the facial disc surrounding the dark brown eyes is usually rather plain. The nominate race has two morphs which differ in their plumage colour, one form having rufous brown upperparts and the other greyish brown, although intermediates also occur. The underparts of both morphs are whitish and streaked with brown. Feathers are moulted gradually between June and December.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Tawny Owl
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call · Arrondissement of Avranches (near Saint-Jean-de-la-Haize), Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: (c) caroline legg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Mottled Owl and Tawny Owl.