Species Profile
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Brown Owl
Gallery
Appearance
The Tawny Owl is a medium-sized owl with a robust build. Its plumage is mottled brown and grey, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. The bird has a large, rounded head with dark eyes and no ear tufts. The facial disc is pale, almost off white.
Females are generally larger and heavier than males, but plumage is similar between the sexes. Juveniles resemble adults but have a more fluffy appearance and may show slightly paler markings.
Two colour morphs exist, grey or brown.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Grey
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Tawny Owls inhabit a wide range of wooded habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, parks, and large gardens. They are found across much of Europe and parts of Asia, extending from the UK to western Siberia and Iran.
In the UK, Tawny Owls are widespread and common, absent only from Ireland and some Scottish islands. They are non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round.
Where and when to see it
How often the Tawny Owl turns up in the UK and Ireland through the year, from birdwatchers' records.
United Kingdom
Resident · all year · most records in September
Show as a table
| Month | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| January | 0.12% (regular) |
| February | 0.12% (regular) |
| March | 0.10% (regular) |
| April | 0.079% (regular) |
| May | 0.11% (regular) |
| June | 0.095% (regular) |
| July | 0.084% (regular) |
| August | 0.11% (regular) |
| September | 0.13% (regular) |
| October | 0.12% (regular) |
| November | 0.13% (regular) |
| December | 0.11% (regular) |
Recorded regularly in
Worldwide: recorded regularly in 50 countries
Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.
Europe (39)
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Asia (11)
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Georgia
- India
- Iran
- Israel
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Tajikistan
- Turkey
- Uzbekistan
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made
Diet
Tawny Owls are mostly carnivorous, opportunistic predators, primarily feeding on small mammals such as voles, mice, and shrews. They also consume birds, amphibians, snails, beetles, worms, and large insects.
These owls swallow their prey whole, later regurgitating pellets containing indigestible parts. Hunting occurs at night, when they glide silently over their territory or stand motionless on a favourite perch, watching and listening for their next meal.
Behaviour
Tawny Owls are strictly nocturnal, roosting during the day in dense foliage or tree cavities. They are highly territorial, with pairs defending their territory year-round. These owls hunt from perches, swooping down silently to catch prey on the ground or in mid-air.
Remember that Tawny Owls can be very aggressive, particularly during the breeding season. They will often attack unsuspecting creatures, including humans, that they consider a danger to themselves or their offspring, so take care and avoid the immediate vicinity of nests.
Calls & Sounds
The Tawny Owl's call is one of the most recognisable owl sounds in Europe. The male's hooting call is a resonant 'hoo-hoo-ooo', often answered by the female's sharper 'kee-wick'. During courtship, pairs may engage in duets, with the male hooting and the female responding.
This has often been interpreted as a ‘ta-wit ta-woo’ sound where, in fact, the female’s ‘kew – wick’ sound is made first (‘ta-wit’) followed by the male’s response of ‘hooo’ (erroneously described as being ‘ta-woo’).
This archetypal owl noise is often used in films to create a spooky atmosphere at night, and it has come to epitomise the genre even though the Tawny Owl may not be a resident of many of the portrayed locations.
- Song0:00 / 0:10
Recorded in Bauska Municipality, Latvia · March 2025
- Call0:00 / 0:12
Recorded in Lincolnshire, England · October 2021
Nesting & Breeding
Tawny Owls form monogamous pairs and typically breed once a year. The breeding season usually begins in February or March in the UK.
These owls nest in tree cavities, old crow nests, or large nest boxes. The female lays 2-4 white, round eggs, which she incubates for about 30 days while the male provides food.
Chicks fledge after 32-37 days but remain dependent on their parents for several months. Young owls disperse in autumn to establish their own territories.
Conservation
While the Tawny Owl is listed as Least Concern globally, it faces localised threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.
In the UK, conservation efforts focus on maintaining mature woodlands and providing nest boxes to supplement natural cavities.
Birdwatching Tips
- Listen for their distinctive 'kee-wick' and 'hoo-hoo-ooo' calls at night
- Look for them perched in dense foliage during the day
- Search for pellets beneath regular roosting sites
- In the UK, check mature woodlands and parks, especially near water
Did You Know?
- Tawny Owls have asymmetrically placed ears, which helps them pinpoint the exact location of sounds.
- They can turn their heads up to 270 degrees to scan their surroundings.
- In the UK, Tawny Owls are sometimes called 'brown owls' due to their colouration.
Community Photos
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