There are five resident owl species in the UK with other species visiting occasionally. Much as owls are nocturnal birds, some can be seen during the daytime – especially at first light and early evening. Apart from the little owl, UK owls are typically about the size of wood pigeons.

All owl species are distinctive because of their large round eyes, which maximise available light for night hunting and, as with all birds of prey, their eyesight is exceptional – being able to spot beetles, small mice and voles in the dead of night. The other weapon in owls’ armouries are their incredibly soft feathers, which enable them to fly in near silence. This is another essential when night hunting whilst the rest of the world is asleep and quiet.

Distinctive hooting call
Of the five UK species the most common is the tawny owl. Being very much a nocturnal bird, tawny owls are more often heard than seen with their distinctive hooting call. During the daytime tawny owls roost up against tree trunks, especially where there is ivy present to give added protection. They are often found in towns and cities where there is parkland with mature trees to provide roosting spots, so whenever you are walking through a park it is worth keeping your eyes peeled for them.

Perhaps the most popular of the British owls is the barn owl with its distinctive heart shaped face and pure white underbody, which makes them appear ghostlike when caught in car headlights at night. As their name suggests these are farmland birds found hunting along hedgerows, riversides and roadside verges. They often begin hunting early in the evening, so the best time to look out for them is when dusk is falling.
The pint-sized little owl is a relative newcomer to this country. It is a native bird of the Continent and much loved in Mediterranean regions where they are often kept as pets. Much as little owls thrive in France, they never crossed the channel in sufficient numbers to establish themselves in this country.

Established as a fierce predator
However, in the 19th century, country gentlemen began bringing little owls into the UK as pets, but later released them into the wild where they soon established themselves as a fierce predator. They are often spotted during the daytime as a dumpy little bird sitting on fence posts and telegraph wires. Again, they prefer the countryside, hunting over fields with fast wing beats whilst keeping low to the ground in a bobbing flight.

Nocturnal and secretive
Finally, there are the long-eared and short eared owls, whose ‘ears’ are simply tufts of feathers that look ‘ear-like’. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and secretive, whilst the short-eared owl is often seen hunting during the daytime, but both species are uncommon in this region.

Having said that, large numbers of long and short-eared owls come to the UK from the Continent for the winter, frequenting coastal marshes and other wetlands, such as the River Severn winter flood plains. Both species like to roost in winter colonies, so the best time to spot them is morning and evening when numbers of birds leave and return to their roosting sites.