Tawny owls are one of the most common owl species found in the UK. However, there has been some debate over whether their populations are declining and if they should be considered a rare or threatened species. In this article, we’ll look at the status of tawny owls in the UK and examine the evidence on whether they are rare or not.
Quick Facts on Tawny Owls
- Scientific name: Strix aluco
- Conservation status: Least Concern
- Population in UK: Estimated 58,000 breeding pairs
- Wingspan: 80-95 cm
- Lifespan: Up to 18 years in captivity, 4 years in wild
- Habitat: Woodlands, parks, gardens
- Diet: Small mammals, birds, insects, worms
Tawny owls are a medium-sized owl native across Europe and parts of Asia. They get their name from their brownish-red plumage. As nocturnal hunters, tawny owls rely on their exceptional hearing and vision in low-light to catch prey. They nest in tree cavities and readily inhabit wooded areas near human settlements.
Population and Conservation Status
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), there are an estimated 58,000 breeding pairs of tawny owls in the UK. The breeding population is considered stable.
Tawny owls are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their widespread distribution and large populations mean they are not currently considered threatened.
However, tawny owl populations did experience declines in the UK up until the 1980s. The exact causes are not certain but it may have been due to organochlorine pesticides reducing breeding success. Stronger legal protections on pesticides and successful predator control programs helped populations recover.
While no longer rare, tawny owls still face potential threats from:
- Habitat loss from development
- Rodenticide poisoning
- Road mortality
- Climate change
Ongoing conservation efforts are needed to monitor and protect tawny owl populations into the future.
Distribution Across the UK
Tawny owls are found throughout most of the UK. Their range covers England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
According to the BTO Bird Atlas 2007-11, tawny owls have a widespread distribution across rural and suburban areas in the UK:
- England: Present across most counties
- Wales: Present across all counties
- Scotland: Present across mainland Scotland and some northern isles
- Ireland: Present across most counties
The map below from the BTO Atlas shows the breeding distribution of tawny owls in the UK during 2007-2011:
This map indicates tawny owls have a near ubiquitous presence across Britain and Ireland. There are very few areas where they are not found.
The highest densities appear to be in England, especially the south. Densities are lower in the Scottish Highlands where there is less woodland habitat. But overall, tawny owls occupy most landscapes and regions.
Comparison to Other Owl Species
Looking at how tawny owl populations compare to other UK owls also suggests they are still widespread and not rare:
Species | Population Estimate | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|
Tawny Owl | 58,000 pairs | Least Concern |
Barn Owl | 4,000 pairs | Vulnerable |
Little Owl | 6,700 pairs | Declining |
Long-eared Owl | 10,000 pairs | Least Concern |
Tawny owls are considerably more common than other owls found in Britain. Barn owls and little owls have experienced severe population declines, while long-eared owls have much smaller numbers despite being Least Concern also.
This comparison highlights that tawny owls are still widespread and populous for an owl species in the UK.
Cultural Perception of Rarity
One reason why tawny owls may be perceived as rare is their nocturnal and elusive habits. As they are active mostly at night and adept at camouflaging amongst trees, tawny owls are less frequently seen than diurnal birds.
Hearing their iconic ‘twit twoo’ call is often the best indication tawny owls are present in an area. Even when present, tawny owls can be difficult to spot roosting amongst the canopy. This may give the impression they are rare, when their vocalizations show they are actually common but hidden.
There is also a cultural mystique around owls that may further the perception they are rare or mystical creatures. In folklore, owls were often associated with wisdom, secrets and witchcraft. While superstition may have contributed to past persecution of owls, it has also romanticized them as rare and mysterious.
Evidence from Citizen Science Data
Another useful data source on tawny owl populations comes from citizen science surveys such as the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.
The Big Garden Birdwatch collects annual data on bird sightings across the UK in gardens. It provides an indication of broader population changes beyond formal scientific monitoring.
Looking at tawny owl sightings from this citizen science project suggests a stable population:
Year | Tawny Owl Sightings |
1979 | 376 |
1989 | 852 |
1999 | 1879 |
2009 | 4256 |
2019 | 6202 |
The data shows a steady increase in tawny owl sightings since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. This matches the assessment that populations have recovered since declines in the mid 20th century.
As a woodland bird, the increased sightings may also reflect urban spread into tawny owl habitats. But overall it suggests a stable, non-rare population.
Reasons for Stability
Several factors may explain why tawny owls have not experienced the steep declines seen in other UK owls:
- Generalist predator – Preys on a diverse range of mammals, birds and insects.
- Tolerant of human activity – Can inhabit parks, gardens and agricultural areas near people.
- Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Penalties for killing, injuring or disturbing tawny owls.
- Recovery from pesticide impacts – Ban on chemicals such as DDT enabled population bounce back.
- Supplementary feeding by humans – Particularly in winter can increase survival rates.
Their flexible diet, ability to live close to humans and legal protections have likely prevented tawny owls from becoming rare. Provided these protections continue, their future prospects remain positive.
Local Declines
While tawny owls remain widespread across Britain as a whole, there is some evidence of local declines in certain regions:
- Southwest Scotland – The BTO Breeding Bird Survey showed a 50% decline between 1995-2010.
- Southeast England – Possible declines since the 1990s as flagged by the UK Breeding Bird Survey.
- Fragmented habitats – Small isolated woodlands have higher local extinction rates than larger forests.
These declines may be connected to low prey availability, habitat fragmentation or climate change exacerbating competition from other species like long-eared owls.
Targeted conservation programs in affected areas could help address habitat loss and prey availability. But overall tawny owls remain common and resilient across most of their British range.
Climate Change Threats
Looking ahead, climate change could pose a long-term threat to tawny owl populations:
- Mismatch with prey – If prey species’ life cycles shift earlier in spring than owls due to warming.
- Increased competition – Competitors like little owls may expand northwards with warmer winters.
- Extreme weather – Wet springs and individual storms can kill chicks and destroy nests.
- Pest outbreaks – Warmer winters may increase rodent pest populations which later crash, reducing prey.
To adapt to a changing climate, conservation actions for tawny owls may include:
- Creating habitat buffers and corridors to allow range shifts.
- Providing supplementary feed during extreme weather.
- Controlling invasive competitor species.
- Closely monitoring populations to identify declines.
Urban Populations
While tawny owls remain widespread in natural woodlands, they have also adapted to inhabit urban parks, gardens and green spaces.
Studies in cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Reading and London have found good urban tawny owl populations.
Features that support urban tawny owls include:
- Mature trees for roosting and nesting.
- Undisturbed wooded areas such as cemeteries, allotments and railway lines.
- Presence of prey like rats, mice, squirrels and other birds.
- Reduced competition from other owl species.
Urban tawny owls are an important reminder of nature in cities. Their presence highlights the value of green spaces for supporting local wildlife. Maintaining areas of habitat like large parks and green corridors will help conserve urban tawny owl populations.
Reintroduction Projects
While tawny owls remain common in much of the UK, reintroduction projects have helped restore populations in areas where they were locally extinct:
- Merseyside – Successfully reintroduced in the 1990s after local disappearance.
- Isle of Wight – All UK owls went extinct here. Tawny owl reintroduced 2006-7.
- Western Scotland – Reintroduced to Argyll forests in the early 2000s.
These projects first required threats like pesticides to be addressed before reintroducing captive-bred or translocated wild tawny owls.
Continued success relies on sustaining good habitat and prey availability. But such projects demonstrate that with appropriate conservation action, tawny owl populations can be recovered and restored.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tawny owls remain widespread and relatively common across the UK. They are not currently considered a threatened or rare species based on population estimates and trends. However, they still face threats from habitat loss, climate change and other factors that require ongoing monitoring and protection of their populations. Targeted conservation efforts in areas of local decline can help ensure tawny owls remain a familiar part of Britain’s woodlands in future.