Finnish Focus On...Ural Owl

Ural Owl is easily one of the most beautiful species available in Finland.

One of the commoner species of owl breeding here, they are secretive in nature, often only detected in spring if you can get close enough to hear their soft territorial hoot at night.
 



Occaisionally, like most owls, we get a couple resident around the city in winter, though they can often be difficult to connect with, blending in against trees or buried in a spruce.


Ural Owls are a very peaceful looking species, often described as having a "Dopey" appearance, though we know that they can be utterly ferrocious when protecting their nest.


The Finnish name, Viirupöllö, translates simply as "Streaked Owl", an unimpressive name for such an incredible bird.









This is my favorite kind of view of this species, really setting the scene of true finnish forrest, the quintessential wise, silent guardian of the woods.

Like most owls, their intricate plumage in terms of their overall appearance, is mirrored by the intricate patterns in individual feather tracts and individual feathers.






Fantastic birds.

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