Tawny Owl

Strix aluco

The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a widespread and iconic woodland owl found across Europe and parts of western Asia. Known for its rounded head, dark, soulful eyes, and soft, mottled brown or grey plumage, the Tawny Owl blends seamlessly into tree bark, making it far easier to hear than to see. Its famous “hoo-hoo” call — deep, resonant, and echoing through the forest at night — is one of the most recognizable nocturnal sounds in Europe.

This medium-sized owl, typically 37–43 cm long with a wingspan of around 95–105 cm, prefers mature deciduous or mixed forests, but it also adapts well to parks, orchards, suburban gardens, and even city centers as long as old trees or cavities are available for nesting. Tawny Owls are strictly nocturnal and rarely active during daylight.

They hunt from a perch, dropping silently onto prey thanks to their soft-edged wings that enable nearly soundless flight. Their diet includes small mammals (voles, mice), small birds, insects, and occasionally frogs or earthworms, depending on habitat.

Breeding usually occurs early in the year — sometimes as early as February. They nest in tree cavities, old crow nests, or nest boxes. The female incubates the eggs while the male brings food, and the chicks typically leave the nest before they can fly, clambering around the tree branches in a stage known as branching.

Despite being common, the Tawny Owl remains a charismatic and mysterious species — a true symbol of European night forests.

Habitat: Old-growth forests, parks