BBOWT guide to identifying Oxfordshire owls by their hoot

With a good view, it’s easy to tell an owl from any other bird of prey thanks to their large head with big, forward-facing eyes. But how do you tell one owl from another? Here’s our guide to the five species you’re likely to spot in the UK.

• Barn owl

A very pale, slender owl, typically white on the underparts and golden-brown with grey markings on the upperparts. It has a white, heart-shaped facial disk with dark eyes. This, and its pale plumage, separate it from any other resident owl. Usually seen over grassland or farmland.

Most often seen at dawn and dusk, though can be seen at night or even hunting during the day. Flies back and forth over fields. It calls with eerie squeals and a shrieking ‘shreeee’.

• Tawny owl

A mostly brown, fairly compact owl with a large, rounded head. A little larger than a barn owl and usually seen in woodland. The plumage is mottled brown but can vary from greyish to reddish. The facial disk is mostly plain, with a narrow, darker wedge extending down between the large black eyes.

Tawny owl. Picture: Margaret Holland

In flight, it shows broad, rounded wings. It has a very direct flight with quick wingbeats and long, straight glides. Largely nocturnal and rarely seen flying during the day.

The tawny owl has a rich repertoire of calls. Listen out for the short ‘ke-wik’ contact call and the quavering ‘hoo, hu-hooo’ advertising call.

• Short-eared owl

A sandy-brown owl similar in size to a tawny but with longer wings. The upperparts are mostly yellowish-brown with darker streaks, whilst the underparts are a paler yellow with dark streaks. The facial disk is a pale brown with a well-defined border. There are dark patches surrounding the piercing yellow eyes, as if the owl were wearing a lot of black eyeshadow!

A short-eared owl. Picture: Ben Hall/ 2020 Vision

In flight, shows long, narrow wings with solid black wingtips – as if they have been dipped in ink. Often hunts during the day, as well as at night.

Male short-eared owls sometimes perform display flights, giving a fast series of deep hoots as well as short, quick wing-claps. Other calls are rasping barks, which are given in a quick series when birds are alarmed.

• Long-eared owl

A streaky brown owl that looks very similar to a short-eared but usually with darker feathers. The facial disk is buff with a well-defined blackish border, with white ‘eyebrows’. The eyes are deep orange with a little black feathering around the inner edge. There are long, obvious ‘ear-tufts’ on the top of the head.

Long-eared owl. Picture: Stefan Johansson

In flight, can be tricky to separate from short-eared owl. Slightly shorter and more blunt-tipped wings, with fine black barring on the wingtips. Typically a nocturnal hunter but can sometimes be seen hunting during the day.

The male advertises with deep, soft hoots with no inflection, given in a regular series with a hoot every few seconds. The begging call of chicks can be heard from a great distance: high pitched squeaks like the hinges of a rusty gate.

• Little owl

A small, compact owl with a flattened crown. The upper parts are dark brown with whitish streaks and spots, which are large on the back but fine on the head. There are larger whitish markings that give the impression of a false face on the back of the head. The facial disk is greyish brown with prominent whitish ‘eyebrows’ that give it a stern expression. The eyes are yellow.

A little owl. Picture: Andy Rouse/ 2020 Vision

Flies with a fast, bounding flight similar to a thrush, though will take a more direct, flapping flight over short distances.

The little owl has a variety of calls, including a fast ‘chi-chi-chi’ alarm call, a low-pitched hoot, and a mewling call.

Find out more about local wildlife and nature reserves where you can watch it at bbowt.org.uk

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