Northern Hawk Owl

Surnia ulula ulula (Linnaeus, 1758)

2017-11-25 Poperechka river, Ridder, VKO	© Aleksandr Klimenko

Description

Background color of upper parts is brown lighter lighter than in tianschanica. White spots on upper parts larger than in tianschanica. Individual variability is rather significant, individuals differ by the saturation of basic dark background colour and development of white spotting on upper parts. Some specimens have white colour on upper parts prevails abovethe dark basic background. Width of dark cross strips on under parts individually varies. Male wing length 220-241 (234), female 225-243 (236) mm.

Distribution

Occupies Southwest Altai, Tarbagatay ridge, possibly episodically nests in Northern Kazakhstan; in Naurzum 27 April 1934 singing male obtained, on south of Kokchetav region recorded 5-8 July 1878 and 17-22 July 1878. On dispersal recorded in Ural valley and even 211 km to north of Djusaly station (4 November 1948) and near Aralsk (11 April 1949).

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.