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Tawny Owl Strix aluco [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Strigidae
BTO Codes:
TO , TAWOW
EURING No:
7610
Number in Britain:
19 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder
Subspecies:
sylvatica recorded in Britain (of 11 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
38 cm
Wingspan:
99 cm
Weight:
M: 420 g F: 520 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: strix =an owl
and Italian: allocco =Tawny Owl (from L.:ulucus =screech-owl)
World Distribution:
Eurasia (not north)
Habitat:
Forest, woodland, towns
Diet:
Small mamals, birds, amphibians, worms and beetles, mostly between dusk and dawn
TitBit:
The 'tu-whit, tu woo' call (a corruption of that originally described by Shakespeare in Love's Labour's Lost ) probably reflects a male (who hoots) and a female (whose call is now often rendered 'keewick') calling to each other
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
19 thousand pairs
in 2000
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Deciduous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
445 to 900 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), CITES(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
48 x 39 mm
Egg Weight:
39.0 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
389
Clutch Size:
2 - 3 eggs
2.56 ± 0.79 (1 - 6) N = 2607
Incubation:
30 days
29.63 ± 1.53 (27 - 33) N = 2607
by the:
Female
Fledging:
35 - 39 days
36.17 ± 2.81 (32 - 41) N = 4255
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
23 Mar (5 Mar - 4 May)
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
1302
Adult Survival:
0.768
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
5
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
21yr5m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
G
Wing Length
Sexually dimorphic (female much larger than male)
Male:
259.0 ± 7.4
247 - 273 mm, N =54
Female:
273.9 ± 14.8
260 - 283 mm, N =235
Weight
Sexually dimorphic (female much larger than male)
Male:
396.0 ± 44.64
335.0 - 482.0 g , N =37
Female:
502.2 ± 58.60 .
400.0 - 600.0 g , N =179
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Comhachag-dhonn
Welsh:
Tylluan Frech
Danish:
Natugle
Dutch:
Bosuil
Finnish:
Lehtopöllö
French:
Chouette hulotte
German:
Waldkauz
Hungarian:
Macskabagoly
Icelandic:
Náttugla
Irish:
Italian:
Allocco
Norwegian:
Kattugle
Polish:
Puszczyk zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Coruja-do-mato
Spanish:
Cárabo común
Swedish:
Kattuggla
Local Names: Brown Owl
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Mikkola, H. 1983 Owls of Europe Poyser, Calton
[598.71 MIK]
Galeotti, P. 2001 BWP Update 3:43-77
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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