The tawny owl is nocturnal and therefore not often seen during daylight. Its familiar hooting 'hoo hoo - hoohoo' call is usually heard at night; a loud 'kee - wick' call may be heard mainly in the autumn.

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Overview

Tawny OwlOrder: Strigiformes

Family: Strigidae

Species: Strix aluco

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Population trend: stable

Distribution: most of the British Isles (absent from Ireland); rest of Europe except northern Scandinavia, parts of North Africa, western Russia, Afganistan and China.

Habitat: in Britain found mainly in woodland (deciduous and mixed) and farmland. Also parks, gardens, churchyards, even cities.

Description: stocky, large round head with black eyes and broad rounded wings. Plumage is usually a rich tawny brown although greyer birds are found in northern areas. Upper parts are mottled in appearance. Buffish below, heavily streaked with brown.

Size: length: 37 - 39cm. Weight: 350 - 650g. Wingspan: 94 - 104cm.

Life-span: oldest wild bird, 18 years old.

Food: small mammals, birds, frogs, worms, beetles.

The tawny owl is nocturnal and therefore not often seen during daylight. Its familiar hooting 'hoo hoo - hoohoo' call is usually heard at night; a loud 'kee - wick' call may be heard mainly in the autumn.

Read More: Breeding

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