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− | [[Image:Tawny_Owl.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Tawny_Owl.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo © by {{user|Nigelblake|Nigel Blake}}<br />Old Warden, [[Bedfordshire]], May 2005]] |
;[[:Category:Strix|Strix]] aluco | ;[[:Category:Strix|Strix]] aluco | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | + | 37–39 cm (14½-15¼ in), WS 81-96 cm<br /> | |
− | A medium sized predominantly brown owl with a stocky body and a neckless appearance. The colour varies throughout its vast range and there are | + | A medium sized predominantly brown owl with a stocky body and a neckless appearance. |
+ | ====Variation==== | ||
+ | The colour varies throughout its vast range and there are 8 recognized subspecies. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
+ | [[Image:IMG 1342L.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, Nominate subspecies<br />Photo © by {{user|Scridifer|Scridifer}}<br />Danube Delta, [[Romania]], June 2017]] | ||
+ | [[Image:IMG 000313.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, Subspecius ''sylvatica''<br />Photo © by {{user|G6+UXU|G6 UXU}}<br />WWT [[Martin Mere]], [[Lancashire]], May 2016]] | ||
One of the commonest and most widespread owls of the Region.<br /> | One of the commonest and most widespread owls of the Region.<br /> | ||
− | Breeds throughout [[Britain]] (but not [[Ireland]]), and from [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the | + | Breeds throughout [[Britain]] (but not [[Ireland]]), and from [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the Urals. Reaches southern [[Norway]], central [[Sweden]] and the southern half of [[Finland]] in the north and in the south found as far as the north Mediterranean coast but absent from most islands except [[Sardinia]] and [[Sicily]] and may occur on some eastern Aegean islands such as [[Rhodes]]. Occurs in [[Turkey]] except the interior, the Caucasus, at a few sites in the [[Middle East]] and in northern [[Iraq]]. In North-West [[Africa]] found in the coastal strip from south [[Morocco]] to north [[Tunisia]]. |
Mainly resident but juveniles disperse fairly short distances in August-October. In the far north of range may move more extensively in severe weather. | Mainly resident but juveniles disperse fairly short distances in August-October. In the far north of range may move more extensively in severe weather. | ||
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'''Vagrants''' have been recorded on the [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] and [[Canary Islands]]. | '''Vagrants''' have been recorded on the [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] and [[Canary Islands]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
− | ====Subspecies | + | [[Himalayan Owl]] was formerly considered a subspecies of this species. |
− | About | + | ====Subspecies==== |
+ | About 7 subspecies occur in the Region differing slightly in size and in minor plumage characters but there is much individual variation<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | ||
*''S. a. aluco'': | *''S. a. aluco'': | ||
− | :*Northern and eastern [[Europe]] to [[Ukraine]], | + | :*Northern and eastern [[Europe]] to [[Ukraine]], Crimea, Balkans and Black Sea |
*''S. a. siberiae'': is the largest and palest with reduced markings | *''S. a. siberiae'': is the largest and palest with reduced markings | ||
:*Ural Mountains to western [[Siberia]] | :*Ural Mountains to western [[Siberia]] | ||
*''S. a. sylvatica'': is smallest and usually the most rufous | *''S. a. sylvatica'': is smallest and usually the most rufous | ||
:*[[Britain]], [[France]], [[Iberia]], southern [[Italy]], [[Greece]], western and central [[Turkey]] | :*[[Britain]], [[France]], [[Iberia]], southern [[Italy]], [[Greece]], western and central [[Turkey]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
*''S. a. willkonskii'': Large and heavily marked | *''S. a. willkonskii'': Large and heavily marked | ||
:*North-eastern [[Turkey]], [[Caucasus]] and north-western [[Iran]] to [[Turkmenistan]] | :*North-eastern [[Turkey]], [[Caucasus]] and north-western [[Iran]] to [[Turkmenistan]] | ||
Line 28: | Line 31: | ||
:*Zagros Mountains (north-eastern [[Iraq]] and western [[Iran]]) | :*Zagros Mountains (north-eastern [[Iraq]] and western [[Iran]]) | ||
*''S. a. harmsi'': | *''S. a. harmsi'': | ||
− | :*[[ | + | :*[[Kazakhstan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] |
*''S. a. biddulphi'': | *''S. a. biddulphi'': | ||
:*[[Pakistan]] and north-western [[India]] | :*[[Pakistan]] and north-western [[India]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
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====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
The '''song''' is a long quavering hoot followed by a faint monosyllable, a short pause and then an extended soft tremolo which falls in pitch. The female sometimes gives a higher-pitched version of this song, but her usual call is a sharp 'ke-wick' | The '''song''' is a long quavering hoot followed by a faint monosyllable, a short pause and then an extended soft tremolo which falls in pitch. The female sometimes gives a higher-pitched version of this song, but her usual call is a sharp 'ke-wick' | ||
− | + | {{ Audio|Strix aluco (song).mp3 }} | |
− | + | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#{{Ref-GillDonskerRasmussen22V12.2}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2016) |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
− | {{GSearch|Strix | + | {{GSearch|"Strix aluco" {{!}} "Tawny Owl"}} |
<br /> | <br /> | ||
− | {{ | + | {{VSearch|"Strix aluco" {{!}} "Tawny Owl"}} |
− | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Strix]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | + | {{GS-checked}}1 |
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Strix]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]] |
Latest revision as of 14:15, 1 May 2023
- Strix aluco
Identification
37–39 cm (14½-15¼ in), WS 81-96 cm
A medium sized predominantly brown owl with a stocky body and a neckless appearance.
Variation
The colour varies throughout its vast range and there are 8 recognized subspecies.
Distribution
One of the commonest and most widespread owls of the Region.
Breeds throughout Britain (but not Ireland), and from Iberia east across Europe to the Urals. Reaches southern Norway, central Sweden and the southern half of Finland in the north and in the south found as far as the north Mediterranean coast but absent from most islands except Sardinia and Sicily and may occur on some eastern Aegean islands such as Rhodes. Occurs in Turkey except the interior, the Caucasus, at a few sites in the Middle East and in northern Iraq. In North-West Africa found in the coastal strip from south Morocco to north Tunisia.
Mainly resident but juveniles disperse fairly short distances in August-October. In the far north of range may move more extensively in severe weather.
Vagrants have been recorded on the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Taxonomy
Himalayan Owl was formerly considered a subspecies of this species.
Subspecies
About 7 subspecies occur in the Region differing slightly in size and in minor plumage characters but there is much individual variation[1].
- S. a. aluco:
- S. a. siberiae: is the largest and palest with reduced markings
- Ural Mountains to western Siberia
- S. a. sylvatica: is smallest and usually the most rufous
- S. a. willkonskii: Large and heavily marked
- North-eastern Turkey, Caucasus and north-western Iran to Turkmenistan
- S. a. sanctinicolai: smaller
- S. a. harmsi:
- S. a. biddulphi:
Habitat
Mainly deciduous or mixed lowland woodland, but at over 2000m in Turkey. Also farmland with copses and scattered trees, town parks and large gardens
Behaviour
This is primarily a woodland owl, the most nocturnal of the owls occuring in the UK. Fairly numerous. Sedentary. Nocturnal.
Breeding
Nests in hole. Breeds in forests, parkland, wooded farmland, preferring old broadleaf trees (ancient oaks etc. providing large holes); frequently found near man in gardens and towns. Aggressive when young leave nest, can attack intruder.
Diet
Food, mainly voles and insects, taken on ground after watch from perch.
Vocalisation
The song is a long quavering hoot followed by a faint monosyllable, a short pause and then an extended soft tremolo which falls in pitch. The female sometimes gives a higher-pitched version of this song, but her usual call is a sharp 'ke-wick'
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2) DRAFT. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Tawny Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Tawny_Owl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1