Tawny Owl
The tawny owls of the Lake District
Wildlife finder: Tawny owl
Videos, audio clips and information about the tawny owl.
Where & when to see them
- Tawny owls are more often heard than seen. Their "twit-twoo" calls are actually a duet by a male and female.
- They are nocturnal but may be seen in the day if disturbed from their woodland roosting sites. Pellets may also be found beneath roosts.
- Tawny owls inhabit mixed and broad-leaved woodlands as well as trees on farmland, parkland and around cemeteries and churchyards.
- They are resident all year round in the UK across Scotland, England and Wales but are not found on Ireland.
More about this species
- Hawk and Owl Trust: Species information
- RSPB: Tawny owl profile
- ARKive: Tawny owl factsheets
- Bird guides: Tawny owl bird file
Chris and Kate travelled to the Lake District to try to find and film tawny owls. The woodland around Borrowdale is wonderful food-rich owl habitat.
In the autumn, tawny owls are particularly vocal. Juveniles are starting to find their win territories in which to mate and hunt for food in winter, and so resident owls will call out to defend their territories.
Click here to listen to a tawny owl call on the BBC Wildlife Finder.
More about the species
The tawny owl is Britain's most common owl. About the size of a large pigeon, it has a rich brown, streaked back and wings, and paler buff-coloured breast. Its head is round with a darker ring of feathers encircling the face. The ring extends down between the eyes to the beak.
The species has some adaptations to night vision but also particularly good hearing, about ten times better than ours. This allows it to hear and locate very small prey rustling in undergrowth.
Strictly nocturnal, it hunts at night – dropping on to its prey from a perch or silently gliding to strike. It feeds predominantly on small mammals and birds, but will also eat frogs, fish, insects and worms. Indigestible parts of this food is regurgitated in compact, bone-filled pellets.
Tawny owls are usually monogamous and mate for life. Pairs return to the same nest site (in holes in trees or buildings) year after year. They'll defend their territories throughout the year. They are highly defensive of their young and care for them for a few months beyond fledging.
How to help
Tawny owls are classed as common. Have a look at Breathing Places' guide on how to put up an owl box.
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