Birdwatch: the paradoxical world of the tawny owl

Britain's commonest owl species can sometimes be heard but rarely seen as winter approachesOwls are a paradox. We celebrate them more than almost any other group of birds, yet we hardly ever see them. That is, of course, because many - including by far the commonest British species, the tawny owl - lead a largely nocturnal lifestyle.We may not see tawny owls very often but we do hear them. That famous "tu-whit, to-whoo" call is actually a duet between the male and female: he performs the hoot, while she responds with a loud, penetrating "kee-wick". Continue reading...