Kingdom : Animalia Class : Aves Family : Strigidae Scientific Name : Strix Aluco Size(H) : 38cm - 43cm (15in - 17in) Wing Span : 81cm - 105cm (32in - 41in) Weight : 350g - 650g (12oz - 23oz) Top Speed : 80km/h (50mph) Life Span : 4 - 6 years Colour : Black, White, Grey, Tan, Brown Skin Type : Feathers Distinctive Features : Large eyes and fantastic hearing
- Tawny owls are commonly found in wooded areas across Eurasia.
- They are medium sized and have a dark feathered ring around their face.
- Tawny owls are usually nocturnal and rest during the day in tree hollows.
- They have an excellent sense of hearing that helps them hunt at night.
- They usually mate for life and the pair are also highly territorial.
- Tawny owls eat mice, worms, bugs, beetles, small rabbits and small birds.
- Their velvety feathers allows them to fly and glide silently to swoop in on prey.
- Tawny Owls swallow their prey and then regurgitate indigestible components as small pellets.
- They usually live for 4 – 6 years.
- They are preyed upon by larger birds, foxes and also domestic animals.
- The average clutch size of Tawny Owls is 3 eggs.
- Incubation period is about a month and owlets become independent after 2 – 3 months.
- Tawny owls fiercely guard their eggs and owlets from predators like rats and squirrels.
- They communicate with each other at night by hooting and the occasional screeching.
- Tawny owls mate in Spring and they are non-migratory birds.