Its reputation as the most common nocturnal bird of prey in France does not make the tawny owl any easier to spot and it is often seen at a quick glance flying over the road, lit-up by a car’s headlights. However, its hoot has been heard by all, starting with an easily-recognised short hoot, followed by silence and then a longer hoot, which is often found in nocturnal cinematic scenes. Its deep black eyes set it apart from nearly all other nocturnal birds of prey.