Ural Owl

The Ural Owl is a large, pale grey-brown owl marked with dark vertical streaking rather than barring, and it lacks ear tufts. It has relatively small, dark eyes for the size of its head, and a proportionally long tail — the longest of any Strix owl — which gives it a distinctive elongated silhouette.

Key Field Marks

• Long, graduated tail with a rounded tip
• Pale grey-brown overall coloring
• Dark eyes
• Vertical streaking rather than intricate barring or mottling

Similar Species

• Tawny Owl — smaller, more richly colored with intricate mottled brown patterning and a shorter tail
• Great Grey Owl — has yellow eyes and a much larger facial disc, versus the Ural Owl's dark eyes and smaller disc

Range

From Scandinavia and central Europe eastward across Russia to Japan (Hokkaido) and Sakhalin.

Habitat

Mature coniferous and mixed forest, including taiga; prefers old-growth stands with large trees for nesting, but also occurs in managed forest where nest boxes are provided.

Movements

Non-migratory, resident year-round across its range.

Feeding

Mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, though can be active during the day, especially when provisioning young. Hunts small mammals such as voles and mice, as well as birds, typically by dropping onto prey from a perch.

Voice

Deep, resonant hooting, often in a series such as "wo-ho...ho ho," audible over long distances as a territorial call.

Nesting and Breeding

Nests in tree cavities, broken snags, old raptor nests, or nest boxes, laying two to four eggs. The species is well known, particularly in Scandinavia, for aggressively defending its nest, sometimes striking humans or other intruders that approach too closely.