Strix aluco -- Linnaeus, 1758ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- STRIGIFORMES -- STRIGIDAECommon names: Tawny Owl;

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 535,000-939,000 pairs, which equates to 1,070,000-1,880,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 371,000-630,000 pairs, which equates to 743,000-1,260,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size trend is unknown. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and Ecology

The primary habitat of this species is broad-leaved forest, however it adapts well to man-made and altered habitats. It is found in urban areas, clear-felled areas and intensive agricultures. In woodland habitats it inhabits mixed conifer and broad-leaved forests, sub-alpine conifer forest and conifer plantations (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). It is monogamous and pairs for life, although is occasionally bigamous. The breeding season is from February to July (Holt et al. 1999). It nests in holes in trees, cliffs, buildings and steep river banks.

Also often uses, nestboxes, the old nests of large birds, burrows of large mammals (König 2008), dreys of squirrels (Sciurus) (Holt et al. 1999) and shallow depressions on the ground at the base of a tree or beneath a bush. Typically it lays three to five eggs (König 2008). It feeds on small mammals and small birds and will also consume amphibians, reptiles, earthworms, snails, beetles and other insects and occasionally fish (Holt et al. 1999). The species is sedentary and highly territorial (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Plantations suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Rural Gardens suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable residentForest - Boreal suitable residentForest - Temperate suitable residentShrubland - Boreal suitable residentShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable residentShrubland - Temperate suitable residentAltitude 0-2350 m Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats

In Britain, human persecution drove declines during the 19th century (Holt et al. 1999). The species is reliant on prey availability, which is often determined by woodland structure. In the north, competition with the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) may limit the expansion of its range (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Locally, pesticide use, traffic and electrocution from powerlines also threaten this species (König 2008).

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (persecution/control)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Unlikely to Return

Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Past Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact

StressesCompetition

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

Transportation & service corridors

Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Transportation & service corridors

Utility & service lines

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Conservation

Conservation Actions Underway

CITES Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known, specific conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed

Further research on aspects of this species’s biology is recommended (König 2008).

BibliographyHolt, W., Berkley, R., Deppe, C., Enríquez Rocha, P., Petersen, J.L., Rangel Salazar, J.L., Segars, K.P. and Wood, K.L. 1999. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55034 on 11 March 2015).Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T and A D Poyser, London.König, C., Weick, F. and Becking, J.-H. 2008. Owls of the world. A & C Black.

Map (see overleaf)