Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
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This medium-sized owl, along with the long-eared owl, is one of the most well known owls in Germany - even though one is more likely to hear than see it, indeed even often from the comfort of one's own sofa. In films, the male call in particular is often used as a stylistic device to create a tense atmosphere during nightfall. The territorial call of the tawny owl is particularly audible between September and November and in late winter and early spring. The compact-looking tawny owl is very adaptable. As cavity nesters, they require variegated landscapes, with plentiful habitat structures, including ones close to settlements, such as deciduous and mixed woodland, parks, gardens and cemeteries. As a result of its relatively short wings, it is adept at quickly manoeuvring through dense woodland. It has a straight line of flight. The tawny owl, as with all owls, glide completely silently. This is due to the feathers on its wings. These are thick and loosely fitting, forming a velvety cushioning, while the edges of the outermost feathers end in small comb-like teeth structures. The female is a little bit bigger and heavier than the male and the birds lack noticeable sexual dimorphic markers. The plumage has highly varied colouring and patterning: ranging from an earthy brown to almost completely grey to rufous with more or less clearly visible bands, spots, strokes and mottling. While its eyes are static, it can turn its head through 270 ° to the right or the left. Tawny owls form lifelong monogamous pairs and occupy a given territory for the whole year. After having raised their young, the strong attachment between the pair bond lessens, only for the birds to draw closer together again during the next mating season. The female incubates her clutch of 2 to 6 eggs alone and raises the hatchlings, while the male provides food. The young leave the cavity nest after about a month. The parent birds continue to raise them as so-called branchlings until they are fully fledged. Tawny owls are both crepuscular and nocturnal. They hunt from a perch and their prey mainly comprises small mammals as well as birds, insects and earthworms.