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| Tawny Owl | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a species of owl resident in much of Europe and southern Russia.
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.
This is a medium-sized earless owl. It is capable of killing prey such as brown rats. It is largely nocturnal and very sedentary.
It is found in deciduous and mixed forests and usually nests in holes in trees. Smaller woodland owls such as the Little OwlLittle Owl : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Strigiformes : Strigidae Athene noctua Binomial name Athene noctua Scopoli, 1769) The Little Owl Athene noctua is a species of owl resident in much of temperate Europe. It is not native to Great Britain, but was i and the Long-eared OwlLong-eared Owl : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Strigiformes : Strigidae Asio otus Binomial name Asio otus ( Linnaeus, 1758) The Long-eared Owl Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This bird is partially migratory, cannot usually co-exist with the stronger Tawny, and are found in different habitats. However, in IrelandThe island of Ireland ire in Irish, Airlann in Ulster Scots) is the third-largest island in Europe. It lies on the west side of the Irish Sea, close to the island of Great Britain. It is composed of the Republic of Ireland in the south and Northern Irelan, where there are no Tawnies, the Long-eared Owl is found in all suitable woodland.
This species has a strong direct flight. It occurs in two colour phases, brown and grey.
This species probably injures more people than any other European bird. It is fearless in defence of its nest and young, and strikes for the intruders face with its sharp talons. Since its flight is silent, at night in particular it may not be detected until too late.
The call of the Tawny Owl is the tu-whit tu-whoo immortalised by William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare born April 1564; baptised April 26, 1564; died April 23, 1616 ( O. May 3, 1616 ( N. has a reputation as the greatest writer the English language has ever known. Indeed, the English Renaissance has often been called "the age of Shakespe. However, it is known today that this call is actually a compound of two calls; the tu-whit by the male and the reply of tu-whoo from the female.
Owls