A ural owl with mottled feathers perched on a mossy branch in a forested area, surrounded by leaves and soft focus background.

Ural Owl

Paignton Zoo is home to 2 Ural owls, who live in the woodland aviaries opposite our cassowaries.

Ural OwlStrix uralensis

  • Class:

    Aves

  • Order:

    Strigiformes

  • Family:

    Strigidae

About the Ural owl

The Ural owl is a large forest owl found across Eurasia, from parts of central and northern Europe through Russia, and into western Asia. It inhabits mature woodland and taiga, hunting mainly rodents and other small animals, often from low perches along forest edges and clearings.

Conservation

The species is classified as Least Concern, though woodland change and persecution can affect local populations in parts of Europe and Asia.