Tawny Owl

owl · Europe · night hunter · woodland

Two color choices. Tawny owls can be either brown or grey, and scientists aren't totally sure why some owls pick one color over the other, but both versions are equally good at hunting in the dark.

Tree hole homes. Instead of building nests from scratch, tawny owls move into cozy holes in tree trunks where they can raise their babies safe from danger.

Stay put forever. Unlike many birds that migrate to find food, tawny owls stay in the same territory their whole lives and will fiercely defend it from other owls.

Territory or starve. Young owls that leave home but cannot find their own empty territory to live in often don't survive, making space incredibly important for these birds.

European woodlands. Tawny owls live across Europe and western Siberia, making them one of the most common owls in their part of the world.