Strix aluco
Distribution Britain 2,054 (-10.9%) Ireland 0
Numbers breeding: Britain 20,000 — Ireland 0
European status: 470,000 (4% in Britain and Ireland =6)
British population trend: worrying declines (-33% CBC){-30%}
How likely are you to record it? 173 squares (3.9%) Ranked 93
Over most of mainland Britain this is the most familiar owl whose night-time hooting is more often heard than the bird is seen. Originally a woodland owl, the bird is now found in fairly open farmland provided there are small copses, or even hedgerow trees, available for them. They have spread north to Caithness in Scotland and recently colonised some of the inner islands of the Hebrides — not recorded breeding on the Western Isles, Orkney or Shetland. Increases on high mainland sites are due to aforestation in all areas. They do not breed in the Scilly Islands or Channel Isles, Isle of Man or Ireland (no records of wild birds) and is sporadic on the Isle of Wight. The recent reduction in occupied squares between the two Atlases, mainly in Scotland and the south-west peninsula and the decline in the CBC indicate that there may be a problem. Some people think this is associated with direct and indirect effects of agricultural chemicals on the bird's small mammal diet. The new generation rodenticides, following the development of rat resistance to warfarin, are much more toxic to birds. Cause for considerable concern.
Tawny Owl (35mm Colour Slide by Roger Tidman)