Baby Tawny
David Shepherd
"Baby Tawny Owl"
Signed Limited Edition of 1500
Published 1994
Image Size:- 6" x 6"
The tawny owl or brown owl is a stocky, medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia and North Africa.
Its underparts are pale with dark streaks, and the upperparts are either brown or grey. Several of the eleven recognised subspecies have both variants.
Tawny owls are famous for the fierce defence of their young: bird ringers usually wear crash helmets with visors to protect themselves when ringing baby tawnies.
Tawnies are specially adapted for hunting in woodland, for their short wings give them great manoeuvrability.
Clutch size is typically 2-3 eggs, laid asynchronously every 2 days or so, and incubation lasts for approximately 30 days.
Fledging occurs around 5 weeks of age, although young Tawny Owls tend to leave the nest earlier than this during their 'branching' phase.
David Shepherd lowry