Tawny owls have a voice that delivers untamed nature straight into our souls says Adele Brand. Rarely, we might see their rounded form at dusk, cutting a ponderous silhouette atop a hedgerow or perched on a branch where those huge eyes are scanning for rodents below. But hearing them is easier, and woodlands and large suburban gardens alike can be their realm.
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What does the tawny owl hoot sound like?
Not that the tawny hoots to provide humans with a wondrous shiver, of course; their haunting ode might be a favourite sound effect of film-makers, but to the owl, it performs the same function as a robin’s song – declaring territory and advertising for a mate. It is the male whohoots, while the female responds with a sharp ke-wick.
Curious 18th scientists tried comparing owl calls to a pitch pipe and concluded that they sing in B flat, but we now know that their music holds other secrets.
Why do tawny owls hoot?
The hoot is unique to the individual owl, and larger males call less frequently but finish with an extra flourish in their quivering vibrato. Those pairs which successfully hold their territories lay two or three eggs in early spring.
What do tawny owls look like?
About the same size as a woodpigeon, a tawny owl has a ring of dark feathers around its face surrounding deep, dark eyes. Its feathers are mainly reddish brown with a paler underbelly.
How big are tawny owls?
The robust tawny owl is between 37–46 cm long with a wingspan of 81–105 cm. They weigh between 385 to 800g.
Where do tawny owls spend daylight hours?
When silent, the tawny owl fervently tries to go unseen. Clad in mottled brown – like an old oak trunk sprinkled with frost – the owl spends daylight in dense ivy or other woodland cover. If it has the misfortune to be spotted by small birds or corvids, a chattering mob descends without mercy.
What do tawny owls eat?
Birds do in fact have some reason to fear this owl’s very opportunistic appetite, with sparrows being a particular favourite. Also on the owl’s menu are wood mice and bank voles, beetles and even the occasional bat or slug.
They catch rats, too, which is a good reason not to use rat poisons. Some 20% of tawny owls in one study showed contamination with rodenticides, although this is much lower than the proportion of barn owls affected by these substances.
Noise from traffic is another problem. But there are still many magical moments when the clutter of the modern soundscape is pierced by that tremulous wail from the dark night.
How long do tawny owls live for?
Tawny owls tend to live to about four years old, but some records show them living over the age of 20!
Discover more fascinating owl species and facts
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- What's the biggest owl in the world?
- What is the smallest owl in the world?
- Long-eared owl guide: how to identify, what they eat, and when they hoot
Image and video by Getty
