Order: 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.
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