Owls are nocturnal birds of prey known for their large eyes, massive range of motion in their neck and their ability to fly silently.
Throughout the year there are up to seven different species of owls that can be found in Galicia.
Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Western barn owls are mostly found in Africa and Europe as well as some parts of south-west Asia, and are perhaps most recognisable for their distinctive heart-shaped face.
During the day they roost in tree hollows or fissures in a cliff and hunt by night on the edge of woodland areas or long grasses.
They are non-migratory and can be found all over Galicia as well as much of Spain. Globally they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list, however they are becoming rarer in some places such as the Canary Islands.
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
Tawny owls are resident birds that are predominantly found in Europe, with their range extending into some of Asia and North Africa. They typically inhabit deciduous woodland and can be seen across Galicia, where they nest within holes found in trees, although they are known to also use old magpie or squirrel nests.
Their population is large and stable and so they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list, but a 2010 study reported that they are suffering from Avian Malaria far more than they were compared to the 1990s.
Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus)
Long-eared owls are recognisable for their ear tufts, however there are many other species of owl that have them too. They typically inhabit the edges of woodland close to open ground where they can hunt.
Mostly nocturnal, migratory owls, they can be difficult to detect and survey, but data suggest they can be found in some parts of Galicia. It is believed that their numbers overall are declining, but they are listed on the IUCN red list as Least Concern.
Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
The short-eared owl dwells in grassland habitats such as tundra and meadows, where they have been observed as feigning a crippled wing to lure predators away from nests.
They are mostly found in Asia and the Americas, but their range does include Europe, especially in the north, and parts of Africa. They can be found in Galicia but their nomadic behaviour means they can easily disappear or reappear in a location depending on food availability.
Their numbers appear to be declining but they are still listed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list.
Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
Recognisable by their bright orange eyes, Eagle Owls are one of the largest species of owl with wingspans that can extend over 180cm, but here in Spain you can also find the Iberian Eagle Owl subspecies, which is typically smaller with a lighter, grey plumage.
Their range extends from the Iberian Peninsula to as far east as Japan, and they can be found in a variety of habitats but usually breed on isolated cliff ledges and gullies. They can be seen across much of Spain, although in Galicia they are mostly located in the South-East.
They are abundant enough to be listed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list, even though their population is in decline overall.
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
The Little Owl is a small territorial bird of prey with a flat head, which, combined with its white “eyebrows”, occasionally gives it a comical, expressive face.
It is a non-migratory bird that can be found in a large variety of habitats from woodlands to semi-deserts, typically nesting in cavities and often seen perched somewhere with a good vantage point to detect prey.
Their numbers are stable and they have a large population giving them the IUCN red list status of least Concern. They can be found all over Spain and much of Galicia although bird atlas data shows that they have disappeared from numerous locations comparing data from 1998-2002 with data from 2014-2018.
Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops)
The smallest owl on the Iberian Peninsula, Eurasian Scops Owls are migratory birds that winter to the south of the Sahara and return to various parts of southern Europe and western Asia during the summer months. In some regions close to the Mediterranean there are some resident colonies.
In Galicia they can be found predominantly in the southern regions, in wooded areas as well as gardens and parks within the city such as O Castro de Vigo for example, where they usually nest in crevices or old nests that belonged to other species.
Their numbers are declining, but currently they are still listed as Least Concern on the IUCN red list.