Class:Aves
Order:Strigiformes
Family:Strigidae
The tawny owl (Strix aluco), a nocturnal bird of prey belonging to the Strigidae family, is a fairly large bird, measuring approximately 40 cm in height and weighing up to 600 grams; The female is larger than the male; the colour of the feathers varies between grey and reddish. Distinctive features are the large black eyes and the lack of ear tufts, the so-called “ears” that are typical of owls.
Habits and Diet
It lives mainly in woods, where its plumage allows it to blend in perfectly with the tree bark, but it also adapts easily to man-made environments such as agricultural fields and historic town centres. Outside the breeding season, it is mainly active at night, while during the rearing of its young it is also active in broad daylight.
It can be seen perched on tree branches waiting for prey to pass by, usually mice, but also small birds, reptiles and insects. Like all nocturnal birds of prey, the tawny owl has highly developed senses of sight and hearing: its ears are asymmetrical, allowing it to hear the footsteps of a mouse several metres away, while its large eyes enable it to see in the dark. It can rotate its head through 270°. Its soft, fluffy feathers ensure extremely silent flight, a characteristic that helps it avoid detection by its prey as it glides down to capture them.
Reproduction
It nests between February and May in natural cavities (mainly trees or abandoned nests) or artificial ones. It lays an average of 2-4 eggs and incubation lasts one month. The chicks fledge 5 weeks after hatching, but it takes 4 months for them to become self-sufficient.
