Upperparts are rich brown with varying amounts of darker streaking and small white markings on the wing coverts, the underside is also heavily streaked dark and rufous on a paler background.

The Tawny Owls head is large, with Black eyes (only shared by Barn Owl) and horn coloured bill.

The face disc is reasonably plain with darker wedge from forehead to bill.

From bill to forehead the wedge shows obvious pale markings and pale eyebrow like markings on crown.

They often appear ‘bull headed’ and stand very upright at roost and are compact bodied and short tailed.

Juvenile

Juveniles appear from April onwards and once their white down feathers are moulted they look very similar to adults.

Status and Distribution

The Tawny Owl is a very common breeding resident in the UK with over 50,000 pairs. The Tawny Owl occurs in all counties throughout  England, Scotland and Wales but is absent in Ireland. (A few pairs recently found breeding in eastern Ireland)

Habitat/Food

Tawny Owls occur in all habitat types throughout the UK, woodlands, parks, gardens, farmland, hedgerows indeed any open country habitat with suitable scrub. They prefer broadleaf woodland for nesting purposes but will hunt by night in many habitat types.