Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is found in the cold polar northern regions of North America, Europe and Asia, and its white coloration helps it camouflage in its snowy habitat.
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: B. scandiacus
Common Names: Snowy Owl, Polar Owl, White Owl, Arctic Owl
Snowy owls eat mostly small mammals. They are also known to prey on many species of water bird. Their diet can vary from winter to summer –in summer they often eat primarily lemmings, while in winter they prey on other rodents including mice, rats, gophers and voles, as well as Arctic hares.
Unlike many owl species that hunt at night, snowy owls are mostly active during the day. This is due to the longer daylight hours in their Arctic habitat during the summer months.
In addition to hunting on the open tundra, snowy owls are also known to hunt on sea ice. They may follow polar bears in order to scavenge from their kills. This behavior has also been observed in Arctic foxes. On rare occasions, snowy owls have been found have been observed as far as 50 miles from shore.
Snowy owls are usually monogamous, with one male and one female staying together through the breeding season. They nest in shallow, dry holes in the open fields of the tundra.
The female will stay with the eggs while the male will hunt and bring back food. After about 30 days, the eggs will hatch. Snowy owl parents are fiercely defensive of their chicks and will attack much larger animals to protect their young.
About two months after hatching, the young are able to fly and hunt their own food.
The snowy owl is a large owl known for its white coloration. Younger owls and adult females have black markings on their feathers, while older adult males are nearly entirely white. Unlike their relatives in the genus Bubo (including the eagle owl and great horned owl), snowy owls do not have prominent “ear tufts” that give them a horned appearance. While they do have small ear tufts, they are rarely visible, and their heads usually appear completely round.
Snowy owls are quite large for owls, and are the largest predatory bird in their frigid environment. They can be over two feet in length, with a wingspan of up to six feet in larger females. They can weigh up to five pounds and in some rare cases up to six and a half pounds.
Snowy owls have a number of adaptations that help them in the cold climate, including feet and toes that are almost completely covered in feathers, save for their talons.
The distinctive white appearance of the snowy owl makes it very attractive as a symbol or character in stories. It is one of the national symbols of the Canadian province of Quebec. In popular culture, Hedwig the snowy owl is the title character’s companion in the popular Harry Potter series of books and films.
The snowy owl is a Vulnerable species. The biggest threat to snowy owls is climate change. Rises in temperature and changes in climate affect the animals that serve as the snowy owl’s food source, and less food in turn means less owls.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_owl
https://www.fws.gov/story/8-fascinating-facts-about-snowy-owls
https://ca.audubon.org/news/october-18-snowy-owl-search-ice
Safari Ltd Snowy Owl Toy Figures:
Wings of the World Snowy Owl Figure
Birds Good Luck Minis Fun Pack with Snowy Owl Mini Figurine