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Western Siberian Eagle Owl

Bubo bubo sibiricus

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60 - 78cm

1.5 - 1.9m

1.6 - 4.6kg

10 - 20 yrs

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The western Siberian eagle owl is a large subspecies of the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo). As its name suggests, it is found in the vicinity of western Siberia, making it the most northerly distributed of all the Eurasian eagle owl subspecies. It should not be confused with the eastern Siberian eagle owl (B. b. yenisseensis).

Least Concern

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LC

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It is thought of as the most distinctive of all Eurasian eagle owl subspecies, with perhaps the palest colouration overall. It is mostly an off-white – particularly on the chest - with the dark markings on its head, back and underparts much lighter by comparison. For this reason, many believe it to be the most beautiful.

What Does it Look Like?

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What Does it Sound Like?

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The primary call is a deep, monotonous “oohu-oohu” used by the male to stake out its territory. The female’s, by comparison, is of a higher pitch. Reaching an impressive 300 hertz, these calls can be heard for miles. They are also capable of other vocalisations, such as barking and growling when feeling under threat.

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Because it inhabits the most northerly extremes of the Eurasian eagle owl’s range, this subspecies must get by on a far less varied diet than those in the south. The proportion of rodents in particular is proportionally higher, as they are often the only accessible prey in sub-Arctic conditions. As such, its diet largely consists of lemmings and hardier vole species.

What Does it Eat?

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Where Does it Nest?

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They prefer sheltered sites between rocks and cave entrances, typically using a nest abandoned by another large bird. However, they may simply nest on the ground, where the female will examine a number of depressions before selecting the most suitable. Generally, only one chick will be raised at a time.

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It has a fairly broad distribution from the Ural mountains in western Siberia and Bashkiria to the western Altai mountains - via the river Ob - at the point where Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia converge. These mountainous areas provide the ideal habitat due to this owl’s preference for rocky cliffside nesting sites.

Where Does it Live?

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What is its Status?

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The western Siberian eagle owl does not have its own conservation status as it is a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle owl, which itself is considered least concern. However, populations are falling, with the leading causes of death being man-made. It is easily disturbed, so efforts to educate people who may come into contact with it are underway.

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Disclaimer: Whilst we have worked to ensure the content on this page is accurate, any information included herein has been provided for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a factual reference, including for conservational, biological, veterinary or other scientific uses, as it may not reflect the most up to date research or includes information that is unverified (or, where data is insufficient, has been based on assumptions of wild behaviors.) Species information has been compiled from a range of sources and the knowledge of the BOWC team. The use of content on this page without prior written permission from BOWC is strictly prohibited. Any photographs not owned by BOWC have been sourced under license with full credit given below the images used. Conservation status shown is as reported by the IUCN Red List. If you believe any of the information on this page is demonstrably inaccurate or has been used without proper accreditation, please e-mail info@BOWC.co.uk

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