UK Wildlife

Tawny Owl Territorial Stability and Conservation

The tawny owl is the UK's most common owl and the source of the classic 'twit-twoo' sound (actually two birds), dependent on deciduous woodland with old trees providing nest sites.

Key Facts

The classic 'twit-twoo' is a duet - female calls 'kee-wick' and male responds 'hooooo'
UK tawny owl population around 50,000 pairs, relatively stable
Strictly territorial and rarely seen - best located by calling in October-November
Needs mature deciduous woodland with large trees providing natural cavities for nesting
Completely adapted to darkness, with eyes 100x more light-sensitive than human eyes

Welfare Considerations

Tawny owls are relatively secure but face threats from removal of veteran trees with natural cavities. Rodenticide secondary poisoning through eating poisoned rodents is an increasing concern. Road kill in territories near roads affects some populations.

What You Can Do

Retain veteran trees with natural cavities for tawny owl nesting
Avoid first and second-generation rodenticides where possible to protect owls
Install tawny owl nest boxes in woodland where natural cavities are lacking