Fauna
Bird

Ural Owl

Strix uralensis

Also known as Ural Wood Owl

Gliding silently through dense Palearctic taiga, these large pale raptors hunt small mammals by acoustic tracking long before dawn. Female Ural owls defend their tree cavity nests with legendary ferocity, frequently diving to strike human intruders who venture too close to fledglings. Their deep rhythmic hooting carries far across snow covered woodlands during late winter pair bonding.

NocturnalForest DwellerRaptor
Ural Owl reference1 / 7
(c) Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBank Vole, Field Vole, Wood Mouse
Predators
  • Eurasian Eagle-Owl
  • Golden Eagle
ThreatsDeforestation, removal of mature hollow trees, collision with vehicles
HabitatsBoreal forest, taiga, mixed mountain woodland
Life span15–22 years
Classification
  1. OrderStrigiformes
  2. FamilyStrigidae
  3. GenusStrix
  4. SpeciesStrix uralensis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Fiercely defensive near nest sites; keep a wide distance to avoid talon strikes.
Why it is dangerous
Nesting pairs aggressively defend their territory, using razor-sharp talons to strike intruders near nest cavities.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by a pale facial disc, long tail, yellow bill, and heavily streaked greyish-white plumage.
What to do
Stay well away from tree hollows and downed fledglings during spring, and retreat immediately if an adult hoots defensively.
Responsible observation
  • Dusk Observation: Scan open glades and forest edges at twilight when adults begin active hunting.
  • Breeding Distance: Give nesting trees a wide berth in spring to avoid defensive dive-bombing attacks.
  • Listening Cues: Listen for deep double-hooted calls during quiet winter nights to locate territories.
Related species
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