Wildlife of Britain

Tawny Owl: The Voice of Britain’s Night Woods There are few sounds more closely associated with the British countryside than the haunting call of the Tawny Owl.  Heard drifting through woodland after dusk, the familiar “too-wit too-woo” has become part of the cultural fabric of rural Britain, despite the fact that many people have never actually seen the bird responsible for it. The Tawny Owl, Strix aluco, is Britain’s most widespread owl species and one of the country’s most successful nocturnal predators.  Secretive, highly territorial and perfectly adapted for hunting in darkness, it thrives not only in ancient woodland but also in parks, churchyards, suburban gardens and urban green spaces. While its eerie calls have inspired folklore for centuries, the Tawny Owl is also a remarkably efficient hunter with specialised anatomy and behaviour that make it one of the most fascinating birds in Europe. Although still common across much of the UK, recent studies suggest that Tawny...