Distribution of the species
The range of this species covers Western and Central Europe, the Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas, the Caucasus, the European and Asian parts of Russia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Israel, North Indochina, Sakhalin island. In Bulgaria it is a permanent species. Common is valleys and mountains up to 1700 m above sea level. It is found on karst terrains in the Fore-Balkans.
Description of the species (biological and ecological features)
The sizes that the owl reaches in Bulgaria are 68 cm in body length and 174 cm in wingspan. This is the largest owl on the Balkan Peninsula. The older individuals are rusty brown with black and gray spots on top, their ears are large and black with patterns, the rest of the lower part of the body is rusty brown with black longitudinal stripes. The juveniles have lighter and looser plumage.
They are monogamous species. The breeding season is from February to August. The female lays 2-4 white eggs. Incubation continues for 34-36 days. During that time, she is fed by the male. The young ones fly away at the age of 7 weeks. It mainly feeds on small mammals (hamsters, hedge-hogs, hares, wandering domestic cats). Its frequent prey are birds: domestic doves, turtle-doves, thrushes, small magpies, ducks, partridges, etc.
Their habitats are hard to access by humans, mainly in rocks and screes, caves, the environs of forests, thinned old forests, often in river valleys near the river.
Conservation status
Unknown.
Conservation state
The species is included in the Red Book of Bulgaria with the category “Endangered Species” (EN), as well as in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA). The owl is included in Annex I to Directive 2009/147 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds.
It is also present in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – with the category “Least Concern” (LC).
*Note: For the description of birds is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Michev T., D. Simeonov, L. Profirov. 2012. Birds of the Balkan Peninsula. Ecotan, Sofia, 300 pp; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).