Photo: Alexander Flume / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) — Owls of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 472 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Strix
- Species aluco
Quick facts
- Weight
- 472 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tawny Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Tawny Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w Eurasia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 472 g, with a wing length of about 26.5 cm and a tail of around 17.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tawny Owl?
The Tawny Owl is a large bird that weighs around 472 g.
Where does the Tawny Owl live?
The Tawny Owl is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w Eurasia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tawny Owl belong to?
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Tawny Owl eat?
The Tawny Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Tawny Owl migrate?
The Tawny Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tawny Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Tawny Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Tawny Owl — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tawny Owl's range?
The Tawny Owl has a mapped global range of about 9.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.