Forensic Veterinary Macroscopic Examination and Identification of a Rescued Ural Owl Strix uralensis Subspecies

Abstract

Rescued wild birds can provide useful information regarding the identity of individuals, as well as the causes of any injuries. We examined one Ural Owl Strix uralensis (Strigidae) rescued in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, in April 2020. Macroscopic examination of the owl’s beak and claws revealed that the owl had been previously managed. From evidence obtained from mtDNA of three, six and two individuals from Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu, Japan, respectively, and that in databases, the individual was identified as subspecies originating from Honshu or Kyushu.