Tawny Owl

Description:

The Tawny Owl is a medium-sized owl, about 40cm in length; with overall compact appearance and a large round head. From what we could observe it sports two large rufous brown facial disks, pale crown pattern and brown and pale cryptic design on chest. My guess was that this was a so called 'rufous form' (or morph).

Habitat:

Observed in a protected wooded park (mainly old broadleaved trees and a meadow) of a national monument (Voltaire's Castle in Ferney-Voltaire, France). This tree-hole is some 5-6 m above the ground.

Notes:

These shots were taken in a broad light, mid-day, and the bird was not moving from its hole - the staff told me it is a resident there for several years now, and is strictly sedentary; sometimes disappearing for few weeks, but always coming back to the same tree-hole.