Snowy Owl: Bubo scandiacus

Snowy Owl

Graceful White Hunter

Snowy Owls are by far one of the easiest birds of prey to recognize. This has a lot to do with the fact that males are totally white (females and juveniles thought, are barred brown and mimic the ground of the arctic tundra). They are also one of the most graceful birds in the sky, catching lemurs in the arctic tundra.

Species Description

SIZE: 20 to 27 inches

WEIGHT: 59 to 70 ounces (3.5 to 4.5 pounds)

NICHE/HABITAT: It is often believed that Snowy Owls, like other owls live in trees. However, these are one of the few owls that breed on teh ground in the arctic tundra. In the winter they fly to more southerly locations whereby they gather in coastal and agricultural regions. Not all Snowy Owls migrage, but there have been reports of some traveling as far south as the Caribbean.

NATURAL HISTORY: Snowy Owls begin as a small egg. They have a 32 day incubation inside their shell before emerging. Upon hatching, it takes about 50 to 60 days to fledge, or fly from the nest. Juveniles are more likely to migrate south than adults. In the spring, around May and June, the Snowy Owls begin their breeding season.

FOOD HABITS: The primary food of the Snowly Owl is voles and lemmings, but they are able to capture rabbits, hares, geese, ducks, ptarmigan and mice. One study showed that Snowy Owls are often found feeding in and around airports where the vole populations are naturally higher.