Range

Tawny owls are found across Europe, Asia and Africa. Here they can be found in the following countries-Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, State of, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

Habitat

They make their home in forests and shrublands. They have shown an ability to survive in urban areas and other habitats which are subject to human disturbance.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place from February to July. A pair of tawny owls will form for life and maintain a territory year round. Some males have been observed to be polygamous though. Parents are highly defensive of their territory and will attack intruders typically aiming for their head.

This defense extends to humans that enter their territory.

The pair will create a nest in a tree hollow or the abandoned nest of another bird, a mammals burrow or a squirrels drey. In to this nest the parents will deposit two to five white eggs with a one week gap between each being laid.

The female completes the entire incubation in most instances. This lasts between 28 and 29 days. The male will bring food to the female and the chicks. Females may join the male on hunts once the chicks are six or seven days old.

Fledging takes place between 28 and 37 days old. A tawny owl chick will depend on its parents for up to three months.

Prior to being flighted it is not uncommon for the owlets to leave the nest. They are skilled at climbing back to the nest during this time.

Owlets will leave the nest and form their own territory.

Sexual maturity is reached by one year old. Older birds tend to have greater success in raising their young.

Behavior

The tawny owl is primarily nocturnal emerging at night to feed.

During the breeding season males and females will perform a two part call with one another. This sound like ‘twit-twoo.’ The female performs the initial ‘twit’ section and the males then replies with the ‘twoo’ sound.

They have extremely good hearing which means they can locate their prey’s location on sound alone. Their ears are situated asymmetrically to assist this.

Their forward facing eyes are not able to move in their socket. As such they turn their head up to 270 degrees so they can look around them.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the tawny owl include birds of prey such as goshawks and buzzards along with larger owls and mammals such as the red fox and European pine marten.

Humans affect their population through the use of pesticides on their prey, vehicle collisions and electrocution with powerlines.

Quick facts

They are the most common and widespread owl in Europe.

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