Here’s a detailed overview of the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis), one of Europe and Asia’s largest and most impressive owls:

Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

Taxonomy & Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Strigiformes
• Family: Strigidae (Typical owls)
• Genus: Strix
• Species: S. uralensis
• Common names: Ural Owl

General Description

• Size: 50–62 cm long; wingspan 110–134 cm.
• Weight: 500–1,300 g (females larger).
• Appearance:
  • Pale, rounded facial disc with fine concentric lines and dark eyes.
  • Long, wedge-shaped tail (unusual among owls).
  • Plumage greyish-brown to whitish with dark streaks, providing camouflage against tree bark.
• Distinctive traits: Lacks ear tufts; the long tail and pale face help distinguish it from Tawny Owl.

Behavior & Lifestyle

• Activity: Primarily nocturnal, but also hunts at dusk, dawn, and even by day in winter.
• Flight: Silent, buoyant, and powerful, adapted to dense forests.
• Territoriality: Extremely aggressive during nesting season—known to attack humans who approach nests.
• Voice:
  • Territorial call: a deep series of hoots.
  • Other sounds include harsh barks and screams.

Diet

• Main prey: Small mammals—voles, mice, shrews, squirrels.
• Secondary prey: Small to medium birds, frogs, large insects.
• Hunting style: Hunts from perches, swooping silently onto prey, guided by acute vision and hearing.

Breeding & Life Cycle

• Breeding season: March–June.
• Nesting: Uses old tree cavities, broken stumps, large stick nests of other raptors, or artificial nest boxes.
• Clutch size: 2–6 eggs (usually 3–4).
• Incubation: 27–34 days by female, while male provides food.
• Fledging: Chicks leave nest at 4–5 weeks but remain dependent on parents for several more weeks.

Habitat

• Prefers mature mixed and coniferous forests with nearby clearings or wetlands for hunting.
• Often in boreal and montane forests.
• Requires large tracts of undisturbed woodland for successful breeding.

Range

• Found across northern and eastern Europe, Russia, and eastwards through Siberia into northern Japan.
• Populations in central Europe (e.g., Alps, Carpathians, Balkans) are more fragmented.

Ecological Role

• Predator: Controls rodent populations, particularly voles.
• Prey: Occasionally taken by larger raptors such as goshawks or eagles.
• Indicator species: Sensitive to forest management—presence signals healthy, mature forests.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
• Population trend: Stable, with some increases due to nest box programs.
• Threats:
  • Logging of old forests.
  • Human disturbance during breeding season.
• Conservation: Legal protections, provision of nest boxes, and preservation of mature woodland.

Interesting Facts

• Among the most aggressive owls toward intruders near nests.
• One of the few large owls that hunts in daylight, especially when feeding chicks.
• In Finland and Sweden, nest box programs have greatly boosted populations.
• Plays an important role in folklore across northern Europe.

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