The upper parts of this owl are a rich chestnut brown, streaked with dark brown and mottled with a tawny buff. The under parts are a buff white. The face is a reddish buff with an off white to buff white semi circular pattern around each eye forming the natal feathers. To finish off it has a whitish buff band going from the facial disc to the back of its head.

Behaviour: This owl is seldom seen but often heard. They have successfully colonized parks and suburban gardens. It is a nocturnal opportunist hunter sitting on a convenient perch waiting for prey to venture into the open. By day it roosts tucked up to a tree trunk where its camouflaged plumage makes it blend into the trunk.

Breeding: The first eggs are usually laid in April and they lay between 2 to 5 eggs. Incubation is on average 29 days. The tawny owls natural nesting site is a hole in a tree but will also take advantage of old nests of crow, magpie and sparrow hawk it has even been recorded of nesting on the ground.  

Food: The tawny owls food is varied and is made up from roughly 65% small mammals, 11% birds, 10% frogs and 14% insects. They have also been known to take Fish, Lizards, Crustaceans and Molluscs. 

Distribution: The tawny owl is widely distributed throughout England, Scotland and Wales But is absent from Ireland Scottish Isles, Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight.

Status: Locally common