Ural owl (Strix uralensis)

Here’s a complete and detailed overview of the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) — one of Europe and northern Asia’s most majestic and powerful forest owls.


🦉 Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Strigiformes
  • Family: Strigidae
  • Genus: Strix
  • Species: S. uralensis

Common names:
Ural Owl, Ural Wood Owl, Great Grey Wood Owl (not to be confused with Strix nebulosa).


General Description

The Ural Owl is a large, long-tailed, round-headed owl without ear tufts. It’s known for its serene facial expression, soft grey plumage, and deep, hooting call echoing through boreal forests.

  • Length: 50–62 cm
  • Wingspan: 110–134 cm
  • Weight:
    • Males: 500–730 g
    • Females: 720–1300 g (larger and heavier)
  • Plumage:
    • Pale grey or brownish-grey with fine dark streaks.
    • Broad round face with concentric feather rings and dark eyes.
    • Underparts lighter, streaked vertically.
    • Tail long and rounded — a key distinction from other Strix owls.

Distribution

The Ural Owl has a wide Palearctic range, spanning northern and central Eurasia.

  • Europe: From Scandinavia, Estonia, and Finland south to Austria, Poland, and the Balkans.
  • Asia: Across Russia, Siberia, northern China, Korea, and Japan (Hokkaido).
  • Isolated populations: In the Alps, Carpathians, and Balkan mountains.
See also  Krabi, Thailand

Habitat

Prefers dense, old-growth mixed or coniferous forests, often near clearings, meadows, or bogs.

  • Common in boreal (taiga) and montane forests.
  • Nests in tree cavities, broken trunks, or large stick nests (often those of hawks or crows).
  • Requires mature woodland with open hunting areas.

Behavior and Ecology

  • Activity: Mostly nocturnal, but often active at dawn and dusk — and sometimes in daylight, especially during breeding.
  • Territoriality: Very territorial; pairs defend territories year-round.
  • Vocalization:
    • Deep, rhythmic hooting call: “Whoo-hoo-hoo, whoo-hoo” — slow and haunting.
    • Females have higher-pitched versions.
    • Calls carry over 2 km in still air.
  • Flight: Silent and smooth, with broad, rounded wings.

Diet

A specialist predator of small mammals, particularly voles, but also a versatile hunter.

  • Primary prey:
    • Voles (Microtus spp.), mice, and shrews.
  • Secondary prey:
    • Small birds, frogs, and large insects.
  • Hunting method:
    • Perch-hunting — the owl sits silently, scanning and listening for prey before swooping down.
    • Acute hearing allows detection of movement beneath snow or leaf litter.
See also  Thailand

Reproduction

  • Breeding season: March–May (earlier in southern range).
  • Nesting:
    • Uses natural cavities, broken tree tops, or old raptor nests.
    • Readily accepts nest boxes in managed forests.
  • Clutch size: 2–6 eggs (usually 3–4).
  • Incubation: ~28–33 days, by the female.
  • Fledging: Young leave the nest at 3–4 weeks, but can’t fly for another 2–3 weeks — during which they climb branches near the nest and are fed by parents.
  • Parental defense:
    • The Ural Owl is notoriously aggressive in defense of its nest and may attack intruders, including humans.

Lifespan

  • Wild: Typically 10–20 years.
  • Captivity: Up to 30 years.

Predators and Threats

  • Natural predators: Rare — large eagles or martens may take young.
  • Main threats:
    • Loss of mature forest habitat due to logging.
    • Decline in prey populations in harsh winters.
    • Vehicle collisions and nest disturbance.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: 🟩 Least Concern
  • Population trend: Stable to increasing in parts of Europe due to reforestation and nest-box programs.
  • In Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, populations are stable and well-monitored.
See also  Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum)

Subspecies

There are up to 15 subspecies, varying slightly in coloration and size.
Notable ones include:

  • S. u. uralensis — Scandinavia to western Russia (pale grey).
  • S. u. liturata — Siberia (darker plumage).
  • S. u. nikolskii — Japan (darkest form).

Identification Summary

TraitDescription
HeadRound, no ear tufts
EyesDark brown to black
PlumagePale grey with dark streaks
TailLong and rounded
CallDeep hoots: “Whoo-hoo-hoo, whoo-hoo”
HabitatOld mixed forests near clearings
RangeNorthern & Central Eurasia
BehaviorTerritorial, aggressive near nest

Interesting Facts

  • The Ural Owl’s call is often used as a sound cue in European films to evoke mysterious or eerie forest scenes.
  • Despite its size, it’s often hard to spot due to silent flight and camouflage plumage.
  • In Estonia and Finland, it’s considered a symbol of healthy, old-growth forests.
  • Nest boxes have significantly helped population recovery in managed forests across northern Europe.

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