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Bird call
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) call
The hooting 'hoo-hooo' and the sharp 'ke-wick' of the night, together the classic 'twit-twoo'.
Listen to the Tawny Owl call
A field recording of the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) by Albert Rainbow, shared on iNaturalist. Listen for the Tawny Owl in woodland habitats.
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Sounds similar
Birds that sound similar to the Tawny Owl
These birds belong to the owl family, like the Tawny Owl, so their calls can sound alike.
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Morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae
Maori: ruru. A two-note more-pork call repeated through the night.
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Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
A deep, soft hoo-hoo-hooo hoo hoo carrying a long way after dark.
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American Barn Owl Tyto furcata
A long, raspy shriek in flight; no hooting at all.
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Spotted Owlet Athene brama
Chattering, squabbling notes from a temple tree at dusk.
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Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia
A single soft, frog-like 'poop' every ten seconds or so through the night.
Questions
Questions about the Tawny Owl
What does the Tawny Owl sound like?
The hooting 'hoo-hooo' and the sharp 'ke-wick' of the night, together the classic 'twit-twoo'. Listen to the recording above.
Which birds sound like the Tawny Owl?
Morepork, Great Horned Owl, American Barn Owl, Spotted Owlet and Collared Scops-Owl sound similar.
Where can I hear the Tawny Owl?
SongLark teaches it in its Birds of England course.
How can I learn the Tawny Owl call?
In SongLark's Birds of England course, it comes in Level 3: Woodland. SongLark teaches it by ear with real field recordings.
Courses
Learn this call in
SongLark teaches the Tawny Owl in its Birds of England course. Each course plays real field recordings and brings every bird back for review just before you would forget it.
- In Birds of England, the Tawny Owl comes in Level 3: Woodland. That Level is about woodpeckers, jays and the voices of old trees.
Learn it with these birds in Level 3 of Birds of England
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Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
A sharp, explosive 'kick!' call and a short, fast drum on dead wood in late winter and spring.
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European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
A loud, laughing 'yaffle', a ringing 'kyü-kyü-kyü' that carries across parks and woods.
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Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Loud, liquid whistles, 'twee-twee-twee', and an emphatic 'chwit' call from the treetops.
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Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
A harsh, tearing scream, 'skaaak!', from the woodland canopy; a shy, pinkish crow with blue wing patches.
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Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Loud, far-carrying fluty phrases from a treetop, often in wind and rain; a dry rattling alarm.
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Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
A soft, low, piping 'pew' whistle, given quietly from deep in hedges.
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Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Britain's smallest bird; a very high, cyclical 'seedly-seedly-seedly' ending in a flourish.
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Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
A mewing 'pee-yow', like a cat, from a broad-winged hawk circling overhead.
Get SongLark
Learn Tawny Owl in SongLark
Install SongLark, sign in, and choose a course that teaches the Tawny Owl.
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