Snowy Owl

I

Introduction

Snowy Owl, large owl found in Arctic and northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during daytime. Adults are almost pure white to blend in with snowy surroundings. The snowy owl is a nomadic species that wanders over large areas to find food.

II

Description

The snowy owl is similar in size to the great horned owl but heavier. From head to tail adults are from 52 to 71 cm (20 to 28 in) long, with wingspans from 1.3 to 1.5 m (50 to 57 in). Snowy owls weigh from 1.6 to 3 kg (3.5 to 6.5 lb). Females are larger than males. They can reportedly live over 9 years in the wild and 28 years in captivity.

Adult snowy owls have nearly all-white plumage with some dusky brown flecks, spots, or bars. Males have more white coloration than females. Juveniles are darker than adults. Snowy owls have feathers that cover their feet, an adaptation to cold climates. Their eyes are smaller than in many other owls and have gold-colored irises. Like other owls, they have excellent eyesight and hearing.

Recent genetic studies indicate that the snowy owl is closely related to eagle owls. As a result, the snowy owl is now generally classified in the same genus (Bubo) as the great horned owl and the Eurasian eagle owl instead of in its own separate genus Nyctea. Unlike eagle owls, however, the snowy owl does not have conspicuous ear tufts, a pair of ornamental raised feathers on the head that have no role in hearing.

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III

Habitat and Range

Snowy owls are found in open tundra in the high Arctic during the breeding season in summer. In winter they sometimes migrate south to regions with grasslands and open plains.

During the breeding season, the snowy owl ranges through the high Arctic from the coasts of Alaska to Labrador in Canada. It also occurs in northern regions of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia. During winter it may migrate further south, often reaching the Great Plains in the United States. It may also reach parts of Japan and China, and even the British Isles. Snowy owls may stay in the high north if food is available, and their appearance much further south in winter is irregular, occurring every few years in events called irruptions.

IV

Hunting and Diet

Snowy owls mainly hunt during daylight, which can last 24 hours during Arctic summers. Lemmings, an Arctic rodent, make up a large part of the snowy owl’s diet. The owl’s acute hearing allows it to track animals moving beneath snow or in tall grass. Snowy owls also hunt Arctic hares, rabbits, rodents, and other small mammals, and birds such as waterfowl and ptarmigan. They also sometimes catch and eat fish.

Like other owls, snowy owls commonly swallow small prey whole. They also regurgitate indigestible bones, fur, and feathers in a compact pellet. Unique among owls, however, snowy owls can reportedly fast when food is scarce in winter, surviving on fat reserves for up to a month.

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