2020 Christmasville Limited Edition - 8x15 Oil on Cedar
 
The tawny owl has an eerie, haunting call, and although easily imitated, has led to a mythical association of bad luck and death.  He is the size of a woodpecker and is much stockier than other owls.  He has a rounded body and head with a ring of dark feathers around his face surrounding dark eyes.  Like other owls, he is a nocturnal hunter with well developed vision and hearing.  (Although he has exceptional night vision, his retina is no more sensitive than a human's.)  He eats a wide variety of prey, but especially likes rodents., but is vulnerable to larger raptors.