The ural owl
Strix uralensis
The ural owl is a bird that very eagerly leaves its nest. In the winter, you can hear the male’s territorial call, “wo-ho….. woho uhwo-ho”. Another sound the ural owl makes is the yapping bau – wau call, which is delivered by both sexes.
About
During winter, the characteristic hooting of the Ural owl can often be heard — a barking-like sound that is sometimes mistaken for a dog. The Ural owl is grey, brown, and beige with dark streaks on its chest and belly. It resembles the tawny owl but can be distinguished by its dark eyes and yellow beak.
This owl has a wingspan of up to 124 cm and feeds mainly on small rodents such as field mice and voles, but also on frogs, shrews, and birds. Ural owls live in pairs, with the female incubating the eggs alone. A clutch contains 1–6 eggs, and the young leave the nest before they are able to fly — at around 4–5 weeks of age.
Fact
Scientific name: Strix uralensis
Conservation status: Near Threatened (NT)
Size: 60–62 cm long, with a wingspan of 124–134 cm; females are larger than males
Weight: 800–1 000 g
Number of eggs: 1–6 (usually 3–5)
Did you know that:
The Ural owl can begin breeding at one year of age, but often waits until it is three to four years old.
This species is known to be highly protective of its young and can behave aggressively when the chicks leave the nest — occasionally even attacking nearby people.
Conservation status
