Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

Identity, life and distribution

Tawny Owl Strix aluco is a medium-sized owl with a rounded head, no ear tufts and dark eyes. Mottled brown or grey plumage provides camouflage against bark. Colour alone is insufficient to separate it from related owls.

It inhabits woodland and mature trees, including large gardens. Mainly nocturnal and usually resident, it retains established territories while young birds disperse. A daytime sighting therefore does not make it a daytime specialist.

Small mammals form much of its diet, supplemented by small birds, amphibians, large insects and earthworms. The balance varies with prey availability in its habitat.

Tree cavities and nest boxes provide nesting sites. BTO gives a typical clutch of two or three eggs and female incubation of about thirty days. These are reference values, not a fixed schedule for every pair or region.

Retaining suitable old trees protects an important part of its habitat. Observe from a distance, without approaching cavities or using playback to attract birds. The photograph illustrates the species and does not document an Arab-world record.

Following AviList, the October 2025 Clements update includes Maghreb Owl within Strix aluco as S. a. mauritanica, reversing an earlier split. North African records may therefore use either the species or subspecies name, depending on the checklist; the British photograph here does not illustrate Maghreb plumage.

www.bto.org — Tawny Owl · www.rspb.org.uk — Tawny Owl · www.bto.org — Tawny Owl · www.birds.cornell.edu — Tawny Owl

Photo: bobhunter2