The Tawny Owl is a chestnut-brown bird, boldly barred and streaked with buffs, blacks and whites to form a cryptic pattern. The breast is pale buff, heavily streaked with arrows of black-brown. A broad, rounded head has a prominent facial disc with deeply set dark eyes. Buff ‘eyebrows’ extend between the eyes to the bill. The tail is short and the wings broad and rounded. There is much individual variation in ground colour, from brown to grey (gray), but all plumage’s are highly effective in hiding the bird from the attentions of irritating small passerines at its daytime roost. It flies on soft, silent wings after dusk and is more frequently heard than seen.

World Owl Trust Registered Charity Number: 1107529 Limited Company Number: 5296745

The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.