Ural owl

Description:

The Ural owl is smaller than the great grey owl, and much larger than the tawny owl, which it superficially resembles. Distinguishing features apart from the size are the pale, buffish grey-brown plumage, with copious dark brown streaking on the back, back of the head and underparts. It has a round head with plain buffish-grey facial discs, orange-yellow bill and small black eyes. The tail is long and wedge-shaped, with dark barring on the uppertail, and the wings are rounded. Flight is direct and purposeful, recalling that of the common buzzard. Sexes are similar, with no seasonal variation. Length can range 50 to 61 cm (20 to 24 in) and wingspan from 110 to 134 cm (43 to 53 in). Weight in males is 500–730 g (1.10–1.61 lb) and in females is 720–1,300 g (1.59–2.87 lb). [Source : Wikipedia.org]

Habitat:

The Ural owl has an extended distribution area in Europe and Asia, from Sakhalin, Japan and Korea in the east to Scandinavia in the west. The northern border is at approximately 65 degrees north latitude, and the southern border follows the southern delimitation of the taiga. There are relict populations in the mountains of central Europe belonging to the subspecies S. u. macroura. Birds in northeast Poland and Scandinavia belong to the subspecies S. u. liturata, and those in western Siberia to the nominate race S. u. uralensis. [Source : Wikipedia.org]

Notes:

I spotted him in mixed forest at sunset how roved over me and sat cca 50m from me on dry branch.