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resident
Amber-listed1 / 3
A Tawny Owl watching from a woodland perch at dusk.
Typical owls
Tawny Owl
The classic owl of UK woods, responsible for the familiar 'twit-twoo' call. Tawny owls are strictly nocturnal and superbly camouflaged against tree bark.
Strix aluco
Deciduous woodland Parks Large gardens
Size
37-39 cm
Wingspan
94-104 cm
Weight
385-800 g
Lifespan
4-5 years
Diet
Small mammals (voles, mice, shrews), small birds, beetles and earthworms.
Song & Call
The well-known 'hoo-hoo-hoohoo' call and a sharp 'kee-wick'.
Tap play to listen0:00
Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Alvaro Ortiz Troncoso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Rounded head, no ear tufts
- Mottled brown plumage
- Large dark eyes
Conservation
Amber-listed
Widespread but sensitive to habitat loss; nest boxes can help in managed woods.
