SNOWY OWL

Nyctea scandiaca

BIRD

Order Strigiformes

Description

20-27 in long; wingspan 4.5-5 ft; weight 3.5-4.5 lbs. Large owl without eartufts. White plumage with some dark barrings. Large round head; yellow eyes; beak and claws black. Females larger and more heavily barred. Juveniles are uniformly brown with scattered white tips of down.

Range

Circumpolar--arctic regions of the old and new worlds.

Status

Commercial trade of this species is regulated by international law, since it may become endangered without regulated trade.


Photo © James P. Rowan Photography

 

Ecology

Habitat
Tundra in the far North; wetlands and meadows when in the U.S. and southern Canada. Nests on the ground.
 
Niche
predatory feeder: eats small mammals, especially leimings and birds, fish and small marine mammals. Largely diurnal. Migrates to southern Canada and the U.S. during years of lemming and hare scarcity.

Life History

Breeds May-Jun, lays 2-14 eggs, number dependent upon the food supply, at approximately 2 day intervals. Nest is scraped out of the earth amid tall moss. The female incubates while the male brings her food. Eggs hatch in 32-34 days. Young are covered in white down. Fledging period between 50-55 days. Both parents feed and tend the young, and are fiercely protective.

Special Adaptations

  • Dense feathers all the way to its toes provide insulation against the cold.
  • Sharp, curved claws to stab and hold prey.
  • Short, hooked beak for tearing prey.
  • Exceptional hearing for locating prey.
  • Fixed eyes and flexible neck permit wide range of vision (up to 270 degrees rotation in either direction).
  • Broad, rounded wings enable bird to travel great distances.