Photos: Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

[Donkees]

S.P. Bhargav. Location: Oulu, Finland. June 2014.
A Ural Owl flies towards us with wings outstretched


Davis Drazdovskis. Location: Teici Nature Reserve, Latvia. June 2011. Owlet at just over 3 weeks old.
A baby Ural Owl rests on a broken tree


Davis Drazdovskis. Location: Latvia. June 2011.
A baby Ural Owl peaks out of its nest box


Lars Petersson. Location: Västmanland, Sweden. May 2011.
Ural Owl perched on a small branch at daytime

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. These are just wonderful! Thank you, my dear Donkees. ♥ n/t

[Sanity Claws]

2. It appears that its plumage changes color over the year.

Is that accurate?

[Donkees]

3. ''An example of variation in face mask plumage coloration in adult birds in the southern Ural Owl''

Photo shows 9 color variations:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/An-example-of-variation-in-face-mask-plumage-coloration-in-adult-birds-in-the-southern_fig4_301639138

[Deuxcents]

4. I love these pictures. Owls are too cool.

Think I’ve said that before. I saw on a documentary that when owls are in flight, there is no sound and they come up on their prey with deadly surprise. We have burrow owls here n they are protected but some not so honorable builders destroy their habitat.. grrr. Our majestic bald eagles are another protected bird and they are numbered and watched carefully.