BRADFORD URBAN WILDLIFE GROUP
Recording, observing & protecting Bradford's wildlife & habitats
Willow Warbler on Gorse
Paul Marfell
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
Sitting Tawny Owl facing camera
“Too-wit too-woo.” It’s the call of Tawny Owls, but did you know it takes two? The female makes the “too-wit” noise, and the male will answer with “too-woo”. In reality, it’s more of a harsh “kee-wick” and a melodic “hoo-hoo” in response.
Tawny Owls (sometimes called Brown Owls) are our commonest owl with about 55000 breeding pairs in Britain, although they are not found in Ireland. They are highly territorial, with territories ranging between 12 and 20 acres. These birds prefer woodland, but they’ll adapt to anywhere with large mature trees including parks and gardens. At around 43cm tall with a 95cm wingspan, they are the UKs largest common owl with reddish brown feathers across the back and wings and a paler underside.
The face is framed with a ring of dark feathers around the eyes. British Tawny Owls are a usually rich warm brown colour, but in Europe they are more often grey. Research has suggested that our warmer winters and less snow could be the reason for this.
These owls are monogamous with females slightly larger and heavier than the males. Breeding is early with courtship starting in February when the couples build nests, usually in tree cavities but anywhere suitable will do, including owl nest boxes. On average and depending on the weather, the first egg will be laid around the 3rd week in March. The clutch of 2-3 eggs usually hatch after 30 days incubation and the chicks will fledge at around 5 weeks old. Like all youngsters, the new fledglings rely on their parents for food and continue to do so for another 3 months. In Autumn, the young birds leave the area to find a territory of their own which, once established, they will defend vigorously and never leave. Lifespan is around 4 years.
Tawny Owls are strictly nocturnal and not often seen. Their wing feathers have soft furry edges which enable it to fly silently and with excellent night vision and hearing it will pounce silently on its prey. Diet is varied. As well as small mammals such as wood mice and voles, they’ll eat rabbits, frogs, birds, beetles, worms and even fish. This variety can help when environmental factors create hardships. They are considered sedentary, meaning that they prefer to sit and wait for food to approach, rather than searching for it in flight.
Despite being nocturnal, these beautiful owls have been seen and recorded throughout the outer Bradford area, from Queensbury to Silsden, but not in Bradford city itself (yet?). You’re more likely to hear them, but if you look up whilst out walking in woodland, you might just be lucky enough to see one. If you do, register it on iRecord or tell the BUWG committee so that we can do it for you. We love photo’s too. Sadly, although these owls are our most common, numbers have declined by over 40% since 1995 and they are now on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern.