Diet of the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

What is it about?

Results of studying of a range of food of Ural Owls are presented. In Russia of Ural Owls eats over twenty species of mammals, thirty bird species and a number of animal other classes. Problems of our researches included definition of types of the victims of a large owl in Mordovia, their quantitative representation, and also to provide the characteristic to osteological material from pellets. By results of work it is found out that in different years the basis of food of Ural Owls is made by mammals, in particular rodents. The most part of a food allowance is the share of gray voles (47.7%). On occurrence the red vole (31.4%) is on the second place. Only 7.3% fall to the share of mice. From mice the predator most often gets a small forest mouse. It is defined that the mass fraction of bone residues in pellets varies in the range from 3.4 to 44.8%. At the contents in pellets only of remains of one-two individuals of small rodents the average share of bone residues makes, as a rule, to 25%; remains of three-six individuals – to 45% of the weight of a dry pellet. Among all bones of mammals the lower jaws, femoral and tibial bones give the greatest information on quantity and structure of the victims of Ural Owls. Concede on quantitative representation in pellets humeral and anonymous bones of the victims a little.

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Photo by Magalie St-Hialire Poulin on Unsplash

Photo by Magalie St-Hialire Poulin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Thus, summarizing some aspects of the relationship of food Ural Owl in the forest-steppe country can say that the form of steadily entered the food chain, and has specific features within the region. This species features a large variability in the selection of common species of the victims, compared to other studied of owls in the region.

Perspectives