Strix aluco
Michael Gäbler · Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park
The tawny owl (Strix aluco) is a medium-sized woodland owl in the family Strigidae. Reliable information from 2024 shows that it breeds in Georgia and stays there year-round. Its presence is also confirmed by photographs and sound recordings. In Georgian, it is called the “forest owl”; it is also known as the “gray owl” and the “common forest owl.” Adults measure about 37–46 cm. They have dark eyes and no ear-like tufts of feathers on their heads. They pose no direct threat to people. Internationally, the species is considered at low risk of extinction. Georgia’s 2024 bird list gives it the same assessment within the country.
Identification
This is a medium-sized, stocky owl with a round head and dark eyes. It has no ear-like feather tufts on its head. According to 2024 information, it lives in Georgia year-round. It is often confused with the long-eared owl, which has these feather tufts and orange eyes.
Birds of this species are about 37–46 cm long, with a wingspan of about 81–105 cm, and often weigh about 385–800 g. Females are usually about 5% longer and more than 25% heavier than males. The head is large and round. There are no ear-like tufts of feathers on the head. The feathers around the face form a distinct circle. The eyes are dark brown or black, not yellow. The beak is short, yellowish and hooked. The body is stocky, the wings are broad, and the tail is relatively short.
There are two main color forms: gray-brown and reddish-brown, with shades in between. In both forms, the underside is pale with dark lengthwise streaks. Light and dark patches on the back help it blend in. Young ones are fluffier and have crosswise stripes. Their eyes are dark too. Gray and dark brown color forms have also been described in the South Caucasus, including Georgia. In the wild, the species can be identified, but its color form cannot be determined.
According to the 2024 list, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) lives in Georgia year-round as well. It has long feather tufts that stick up like ears, orange eyes, and a relatively slender body. The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) lives in open areas and can also be seen during the day. Its ear-like feather tufts are short. The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is much larger. It also has ear-like feather tufts and orange eyes. The little owl (Athene noctua) is small and has yellow eyes. The Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops) is small, has feather tufts on its head, nests in Georgia, and is migratory. The barn owl (Tyto alba) has a heart-shaped face and pale, almost white coloring. It is included on the 2014 Red List. The boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) is a small forest owl with yellow eyes. This atlas has separate pages for the Eurasian eagle-owl, little owl, Eurasian scops owl, barn owl, and boreal owl. The long-eared owl and short-eared owl do not yet have separate pages.
It poses no direct threat to people. Do not pick it up. In Georgia, the “hoo-hoo” heard in forests at night comes from this owl, not the eagle owl. It has a round head and dark eyes, and no visible ears.
In Georgia, look for it in forests, at forest edges, and in parks and gardens with old trees. Do not assume it is just as numerous on treeless high plateaus or in open steppe. No municipalities are marked on the map on this page. A 2024 list confirms that the species lives in Georgia year-round, but gives no records by region. In general, it lives in deciduous or mixed forests, as well as forests on river floodplains, cemeteries, large gardens, and city parks with old trees. It needs a tree hollow or another cavity for nesting. It is less common in dense coniferous taiga where the treetops form a thick cover. This page does not say at what elevations it occurs in Georgia. In other parts of its range, it also reaches high into the mountains; published information from Turkey puts it at up to about 2,350 metres. That figure is not from Georgia. The atlas map will remain blank until information is gathered from sources that name specific places where it has been seen in Georgia.
This page does not include a separate study of its diet in Georgia. In other parts of its range, it mainly catches small forest mammals, especially voles and mice. It also eats birds, amphibians, beetles and earthworms. In populated areas, birds often make up a larger share of its diet. It usually swallows prey whole. Later, it brings up the remains as a ball; bones and fur may be found at the base of a tree. This describes the species’ diet in general, not a diet measured in Georgia.
Related guides
Yes. As of 2024, it is confirmed that this bird nests in Georgia and stays here year-round. A photograph and an audio recording provide evidence.
It is found in forests, at forest edges, and in parks or gardens with old trees. This page has no list of municipalities, and the regions are not shaded on the map. Its presence has been confirmed in the country, but not in individual regions.
It has a round head without ear-like feather tufts, dark eyes, a compact body, and a pale belly with lengthwise stripes. At night, its wavering “hoo-hoo” and “ki-vik” calls can be heard. The eared owl has those feather tufts and orange eyes.
Birds of this species are about 37–46 cm long, with a wingspan of about 81–105 cm. Females are usually larger than males. This page does not provide separate measurements for Georgia.
It mainly eats small mammals, especially rodents. It also eats birds and animals without backbones. This page does not separately discuss what it eats in Georgia.
According to the 2024 list, it is present year-round and is not considered a species that appears only during migration or only in winter. It is easiest to hear at night.
Yes. The 2024 list says this bird nests in Georgia and stays there year-round. It usually makes its nest in a tree hollow. This page does not show the dates when chicks appear in Georgia in a table.
It is harmless to people, but it may attack in self-defense near its nest. Do not go near it. Its risk of extinction is low worldwide. In Georgia’s 2024 list, it is in the LC category, which also means a low risk of extinction. It is not included in the 2014 Red List. Do not catch wild birds.
References
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
