Tawny Owl

[Dogghound]

Thought I would share this bird with you all. Its a red morph bird which I dont seem to see much of around here, its usually the grey brown birds. I have found what I presume to be the same bird for the last 3 winters in a small copse. I have now found several birds local to me now which have favourite perches. I had an amazing sight with this bird (I think) about a month ago where it mobbed a long eared owl which was amazing.

[Farplace]

Nice shot! We get several tawnys here every year, but never had a red morph type. What a lovely bird.

[pammosley]

Well spotted & nice photo dogghound, I`ve still yet to see one

[aeshna5]

Nice one. Interestingly I would say most of the Tawnies I see (+ it's not that many) tend to be this colour form. Perhaps the "greys" are more common in the north?

[Deb London]

I don't think I've seen one this red. It's a lovely bird.

[Magicboots]

It looks very cosy, good photo

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Nice one. Interestingly I would say most of the Tawnies I see (+ it's not that many) tend to be this colour form. Perhaps the "greys" are more common in the north?

Aren't you the night owl?!

I was going to say the same - I can't remember seeing a grey owl on the north west coast, but my memory is not what it was.

[Dogghound]

Interesting replies everyone cheers . I wonder what drives the two colour morphs, is it deciduous and broadleaved woodland (habitat)? is it location? anyone know of any studies?

Or possibly due to its location within europe, I wonder if more grey birds are found in the south or visa versa. I know that Strix aluco aluco the central european subspecies is more similar to our red morph bird. Although the north african birds tend to be more like the grey/brown birds.

[htcdude]

This arcticle seems to agree with your habitat theory

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Nige

[The Woodman]

Just an observation - I rarely see these birds in coniferous woodland apart from deciduous Larch. The last one I saw (last week) was in SW Scotland on the Whithorn penninsula roosting in Ash - like yours- in coastal mixed broadleaf woodland.

There is a nice mixed private woodland in our village where a red Tawny roosts regularly against a decent sized Eucalyptus and in nearby Larches. On one occassion I disturbed it from young pines in the same wood.

I've never noticed any colour/wood type affiliation.

Tawnies are called Wood Owls and Short -eared Bog Owls hereabouts by the older generation.