**4.10 Tawny owl** *Strix aluco* **Linnaeus, 1758 (IUCN red list: LC)**

The following are explained in **Figure 26**.

Iraq

Status: Status uncertain; possibly a rare breeding resident in northern wooded hills as birds heard hooting in February–April; an owl heard in Central Iraq possibly on passage; also, a rare winter visitor.

Literature records: Duhok [2], Habbaniya [56], and Mousl [3, 9].

Recent records: Sir Amadiya and QaraDagh Mountain.

Syria

Status: Breeding resident. Restricted to wooded forests, spread in all regions except in the dry areas of Al-Badia.

**Figure 26.** *Distribution of Tawny owl Strix aluco in Iraq and Syria.*

*Queens of the Night, the Owls of Iraq and Syria - Species, Current Distribution,… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109571*

**Figure 27.** *An adult Tawny owl Strix aluco in QaraDagh Mountain in northern Iraq. Photo© Korsh Ararat.*

Literature records: Jubb Al-Ghar [17], Kasab, Ras Al-Baseet, Slenfeh [22], Palmyra [29], ar-Rawda near Rabi'ah, Qal'at Salah ad-Din [30], and Deir ez-Zor, Palmyra [64].

Recent records: Drekeish, Homs, Sreijes, Al-Qlatiyeh, and aj-Jankeil (**Figure 27**).
