The Ural owl is a medium to large owl that is found across northern Europe and Asia. It prefers old growth forests and wooded tundra for habitat. The Ural owl is an opportunistic predator and eats a variety of prey depending on what is available in its habitat.
Small mammals
One of the primary food sources for the Ural owl is small mammals. These include rodents such as voles, lemmings, mice, rats, and squirrels. The Ural owl hunts these small mammals by flying low and silently through the forest or wooded tundra and swooping down on prey. Their excellent low light vision and hearing allow them to locate and capture small mammals in dense vegetation or under the snow.
Voles
Voles, in particular, are an important part of the Ural owl’s diet. Voles are small rodents that live in burrows and tunnels in the grass and soil. There are several species found across the Ural owl’s range including the northern red-backed vole, the grey red-backed vole, the bank vole, and the common vole. The cyclic population fluctuations of voles means some years they are abundant while other years their numbers crash. In peak vole years, they can make up over 50% of the prey items for Ural owls.
Lemmings
Lemmings are another type of rodent that undergoes population booms and busts. In years when lemmings are numerous, they provide an important food source for Ural owls. The brown lemming and collared lemming are two species found in the Ural owl’s Arctic habitat. Ural owls will readily prey on these when they are available in large numbers.
Mice
Various species of wood mice, red-backed mice, and harvest mice are taken by Ural owls, particularly in forested areas. Being adept at hunting amongst the trees and underbrush, Ural owls use their silent flight to surprise and capture these quick and nimble rodents.
Squirrels
Squirrels are also preyed upon by Ural owls, especially red squirrels which are common throughout northern Eurasia. Squirrels provide a larger, more substantial meal for Ural owls.
Birds
Birds are another major component of the Ural owl’s diet. Being accomplished hunters, Ural owls prey on many species of songbirds, woodpeckers and other birds found in their habitat. Species frequently taken include jays, thrushes, finches, tits, wrens, nuthatches, grouse, ptarmigan and various songbirds. Ural owls locate roosting birds at night with their excellent low light vision. They capture birds by crashing through vegetation to grasp them with their talons.
Grouse and Ptarmigan
Various grouse and ptarmigan species are important prey for Ural owls, particularly in more open wooded tundra habitat. These include willow ptarmigan, rock ptarmigan, western capercaillie, black grouse, and hazel grouse. Ural owls help keep populations of these popular game birds in check.
Songbirds
A wide variety of songbirds are preyed upon by Ural owls depending on the habitat and region. Some species include thrushes, finches, sparrows, buntings and larks. Perching birds are especially vulnerable when roosting at night and can be snatched up by a stealthy Ural owl.
Other Prey
While small mammals and birds make up the bulk of their diet, Ural owls also prey on other creatures when the opportunity arises. These occasional prey items help provide some additional sources of food.
Insects
Large insects like beetles, dragonflies and moths may be eaten, especially during the summer months when insect activity increases. Young newly fledged Ural owls likely feed on insects frequently to get the nutrition they need for rapid growth.
Fish
Fish are an uncommon but documented prey item for Ural owls. Owls that live near streams, lakes or the ocean have been recorded catching species like perch, ruffe, salmon and trout. Wading in shallow water and snatching up unsuspecting fish provides a novel food source.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Amphibians like frogs and toads are preyed upon on occasion by Ural owls. Small reptiles like snakes and lizards may also be taken if the opportunity arises. These prey provide a source of food that diversifies the owl’s diet.
Other Birds and Mammals
Rarely, larger prey are taken by Ural owls. Nestling hares have been recorded being preyed upon. Larger bird species like ducks, rails, woodpeckers and even raptors may be taken. Cases of cannibalism on smaller owl species have also been documented. These larger prey provide substantial food when taken, but are more difficult to subdue.
Hunting Habits
Ural owls have a number of effective adaptations and strategies for locating and catching prey.
- Silent flight – Their large, broad wings allow them to fly slowly and silently, sneaking up on prey.
- Excellent low light vision – Their large eyes allow them to locate prey in dark conditions.
- Acute hearing – Their facial disc helps direct tiny sounds to their ears for detection.
- Stealth ambush hunting – Their cryptic plumage keeps them camouflaged as they watch for prey from a perch before swooping down suddenly.
- Snow plunging – They will crash into snow to capture hidden voles and lemmings underneath.
Ural owls are primarily nocturnal hunters, but will also hunt around dawn and dusk. They typically swallow smaller prey whole and regurgitate indigestible parts like fur, feathers and bones as pellets.
Habitat
The habitats Ural owls occupy influence the types of prey available to them. Their main habitats include:
Old Growth Forests
Mature forests with large old trees provide nesting sites and support populations of small mammals like voles, mice and squirrels along with woodpeckers, grouse and songbirds the owls prey on.
Wooded Tundra
Open woodlands interspersed with shrublands or grasslands in subarctic and alpine areas provide habitat for lemmings, ptarmigan, and songbirds.
Parks and Cemeteries
In more developed areas, Ural owls find prey like rats, mice and sparrows in wooded parks and cemeteries.
River Valleys
Forests along rivers provide habitat for Ural owls to hunt mammals, fish, frogs and birds associated with the riparian areas.
Population Effects
Ural owl populations tend to fluctuate over time, partly in response to prey availability. In peak prey years, owl populations increase due to greater reproductive success and survival. In leaner years with crashes in vole cycles, the owl population declines. Through studying regurgitated pellets, scientists have documented these cyclical population changes mirroring the ups and downs of prey species.
Ural owls help regulate prey populations like rodents and grouse. This top down pressure helps prevent overpopulation and overgrazing by these species that could negatively impact the ecosystem.
Threats
Some threats that can negatively impact Ural owl populations and food availability include:
- Habitat loss – Deforestation and land development reduce hunting areas.
- Habitat fragmentation – Breaking up old growth forests makes hunting more difficult.
- Climate change – Could disrupt prey population cycles and ecosystems.
- Pesticides – Could accumulate in body and reduce owl and prey populations.
- Illegal shooting – Ural owls are sometimes mistakenly killed by hunters.
Maintaining intact, undisturbed habitat will be key for the continued survival of Ural owl populations and their prey base into the future.
Comparison to Other Owls
The diet of the Ural owl differs from other owl species in some key ways:
Snowy Owl
Snowy owls focus more on lemmings as a primary food source. They also hunt more during daytime hours unlike the nocturnal Ural owl.
Great Grey Owl
Great grey owls prey more heavily on voles rather than the diversity of small mammals and birds eaten by Ural owls.
Northern Hawk Owl
Northern hawk owls eat more birds than small mammals. They also hunt during daylight. Ural owls take more nocturnal small mammal prey.
Eurasian Eagle Owl
As one of the larger owl species, the Eurasian eagle owl takes more large prey like hares, foxes, young deer, larger birds and mid-sized mammals. Ural owls focus on smaller rodents and songbirds.
Conclusion
The Ural owl is a highly effective predator, feeding on small mammals like voles, lemmings, mice and squirrels along with birds such as grouse, ptarmigan and songbirds. Their stealth ambush style of hunting allows them to thrive across boreal forests, wooded tundra and subalpine habitats. A wise old Ural owl plays an important ecological role keeping prey populations in balance as part of a functioning northern ecosystem.