Gray Owl / Mykyy Uku / Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl

Status: VII, Least Concern, LC. In Kyrgyzstan, Strix aluco harmsi (Zarudny, 1911) is found.

Distribution overall and in the country. The nesting range is fragmented and lies within Europe, Asia, and Northwest Africa, extending north to Norway, Sweden, St. Petersburg, and Ishim, and south to Turkey and Northern Iran, with a gap: the owl is absent in Eastern Iran and Western Afghanistan and appears further east: in Turkestan, Western Tian Shan, Pakistan, India, China, and Korea [45]. In Kyrgyzstan, it is a common bird in the walnut forests of the Chatkal and Fergana ridges, occasionally found in the Chui Valley [2]. There are reports of winter sightings from Gulchi and Uzgen.

Habitat. A forest bird, in Kyrgyzstan it prefers old cluttered walnut forests.

Population. Unknown.

Life history (life cycles). Breeding times in Kyrgyzstan are not established. In neighboring areas of Kazakhstan, mating calls are noted at the end of May, and by early July, fledglings are already present. The clutch size is 2-6 eggs, the female incubates for 30 days, and the chicks leave the nest after a month, remaining in the nesting area for a long time [45]. The diet is varied: small mammals and birds, less frequently reptiles, amphibians, and beetles, but the main food source consists of small rodents: voles and mice, as well as Turkestan rats in our conditions [2].

Limiting factors. Logging of old forests with hollow trees, depression of main food species - rodents.

Breeding (keeping in captivity). Unknown.

Existing conservation measures. The Tawny Owl inhabits the territories of the Sary-Chelek and Padysha-Ata reserves.

Recommended conservation measures. Hanging artificial nest boxes in cluttered old forest areas.

Мыкый уку

Tawny Owl
Strix aluco (Linnaeus, 1758), ssp. harmsi (Zarudny, 1911)
Status: VII, Least Concern, LC. Common bird in walnut forests of Chatkal and Fergana Mountain Ridges, sometimes occurs in Chu Valley. Wintering birds were seen in Gulcho and Uzgen villages. Data on numbers are unknown. Nesting biology is also not available. In Kazakhstan, males' display calls are heard at the end of May. Lays 2-6 eggs, female incubates for 30 days, juveniles leave the nest in a month. Feeds on small rodents and Turkestan Rat. Limiting factors include the felling of old trees with hollows in tree trunks and the decline in rodent populations. No evidence about keeping in captivity. It is protected in Sary-Chelek and Padysha-Ata reserves (protected areas). It is recommended to hang artificial nests in mature parts of the walnut forests.