Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a common owl found in 60 countries, weighing about 472 g. The tawny owl, also called the brown owl, is a stocky, medium-sized owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Tawny Owl
The tawny owl, also called the brown owl, is a stocky, medium-sized owl in the family Strigidae. It is commonly found in woodlands across Europe, as well as western Siberia, and has seven recognized subspecies. The tawny owl's underparts are pale with dark streaks, whilst its upper body may be either brown or grey. The tawny owl typically makes its nest in a tree hole where it can protect its eggs and young against potential predators. It is non-migratory and highly territorial: as a result, when young birds grow up and leave the parental nest, if they cannot find a vacant territory to claim as their own, they will often starve.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Tawny Owl sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Tawny Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Tawny Owl on live cams
- Robert E Fuller: Fotherdale CamsThixendale, Yorkshire, England, UK · Streaming now
- Robert E Fuller: Ash Wood CamsYorkshire, England, UK · Streaming now
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tawny Owl?
- The tawny owl is a robust bird, 37–46 cm (15–18 in) in length, with an 81–105 cm (32–41 in) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tawny Owl?
- The Tawny Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 472 g.
- Where can you see a Tawny Owl?
- The Tawny Owl occurs in 60 countries, including Sweden, France, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
- What does a Tawny Owl sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Tawny Owl on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Tawny Owl?
- The Tawny Owl is most easily confused with the Barred Owl, the Ural Owl and the Mottled Owl.
- Is the Tawny Owl endangered?
- The Tawny Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tawny Owl for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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