Ural owl
In some owls, the females are somewhat larger and heavier than the males. This difference is an adaptation to the defence of the young birds. The female broods from the first egg onwards, so that there are young birds of different ages in one nest. The male provides the prey, which the female feeds to the young. The Ural owl, closely related (and quite similar) to the tawny owl, was a rare breeding bird only seen sporadically in the Alps, with its main distribution in the large forests of north-east Europe. The Alpenzoo is currently participating in a breeding and reintroduction programme in Austria.
- Only after several attempts to get closer, performing nesting site inspections and “wedding gifts” (handing over prey) do two ural owls get involved with each other. Then, occasionally, even mutual plumage care and scratching can be observed.
Scientific Name
Strix uralensis
Age
- up to 20 years
Nutrition
- Small mammals
- Small birds
- Amphibians
- Insects
Adversaries
- Humans only
Weight
- up to 1.5 kg
Wingspan: 60 – 62 cm
Other birds
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