Ural owl

About

The Ural owl is a large owl of old mountain forests. In Ukraine, it is rare, and in the Carpathians, there is a separate relict subspecies Strix uralensis macroura, which inhabits beech, coniferous, and mixed forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians. This subspecies is also found in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania, especially in old beech primeval forests.

The owl measures 50–59 cm in length, with a wingspan of up to 115 cm; females are larger than males. It is grayish-white with dark longitudinal streaks, has a round head without feathered 'ears', a light facial disc, and relatively small dark eyes. The long wedge-shaped tail is noticeable even when the bird is perched — hence the name.

The Ural owl nests in March–April, occupying old nests of other birds, as well as tree hollows and broken trunks of old trees. The female lays 4–6 eggs and incubates them for 27–29 days; the chicks appear from late May to July. Near the nest, this owl can be very aggressive and may attack a person who approaches too closely.

The Ural owl hunts for voles and mice, as well as small birds, in forest clearings and edges. In winter, some birds descend to the Transcarpathian lowland, into old oak forests, floodplain forests, and even old cemeteries.

The Ural owl is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine as a poorly known species, and in the EU, it is included in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The most important factor for its survival is the preservation of old forests with hollow trees.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Romania · Slovakia · Hungary · Poland · Czechia

Mountain ranges

Chornohora, Gorgany, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Maramureș Mountains, Skole Beskids, Upper Dniester Beskids, Vrancea Mountains, Polonynian Ridge, Svydovets, Watershed Ridge

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Do not approach owl nests: the Ural owl protects its chicks and may attack a person.

Protection and rules

A species in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Do not disturb birds near nests.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ