Snowy Owl

The snowy owl, whose scientific name is Bubo scandiacus, is a large, majestic owl with striking white plumage and luminous yellow eyes. Snowy owls are birds that spend most of their time in the treeless and frigid tundras surrounding the North Pole, but they can occasionally be spotted in the lower regions of Canada and the northern regions of the United States. They are considered to be the largest North American owl by weight due to the heavy insulation of feathers that covers them from head to toe.

Incredible Snowy Owl Facts

• Snowy owls have feet that are covered with dense, fluffy feathers to insulate them against the Arctic snows.
• Unlike most birds, snowy owls prefer to perch on the ground or in low elevations rather than in trees.
• The snowy owl is not a nocturnal bird. Instead, it is crepuscular, which means that it is most active during the pre-dawn and twilight hours of the day.
• Female snowy owls are larger than males, and they can usually be distinguished by the markings on their feathers.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for a snowy owl is Bubo scandiacus. “Bubo” is a Latin word also used to describe a horned owl, which is a very close relative of the snowy owl. “Scandiacus” is derived from a New Latin word for Scandinavia because this is where the birds were first observed.

Appearance

As the name suggests, these owls have beautiful, snowy white plumage. In fact, they are considered to be more of a “pure white” color than other Arctic predators, which helps immensely with camouflage. They can have varying amounts of black or brown markings on their feathers, and these markings can often help identify the age and sex of the owl in question.

In general, females are larger than males, and they typically have more black or brown spotting than males, especially on their crown and leg feathers. Juvenile females are often the darkest, and they usually have significant dark barring throughout their plumage.

Males tend to have markings that manifest more like spots than bars, and they generally have fewer spots overall. Researchers have also noted that adult males tend to become whiter as they age. In some cases, the oldest males are completely white.

In terms of size, snowy owls are one of the largest owls in the world. They are by far the largest owl in North America in terms of weight and wingspan, and they are the second heaviest and longest-winged in Europe. As is common in birds of prey, females are generally larger than males.

Females average 21 to 28 inches in length, and males average from 20 to 25 inches. A female’s wingspan can measure up to 6 feet, but a male’s may only range from about 3.9 to 5.5 feet. In terms of weight, female snowy owls may weigh up to 6 pounds, and males may weigh up to 3.5 or 4 pounds.

Unlike many other owls they are related to, snowy owls do not have tall, distinctive ear tufts. They have a small number of vestigial tuft feathers around their ears, but they are not noticeable from a distance and often do not stick out at all. They have golden yellow eyes, thick feathering, and long, heavy black claws. These adaptations, along with dense layers of leg feathers, make them perfectly suited to their freezing habitat.

Behavior

In general, snowy owls are solitary birds that do not prefer to socialize. They tend to be monogamous, and a pair will aggressively defend their territory. Unlike many other owl species, snowy owls are crepuscular, which means that they are active during the day, primarily during dawn and twilight hours. They spend much of their time sitting on the flat ground or slight elevations and searching for prey. This is more comfortable for them than perching in trees due to their short, broad legs.

They make many different types of vocalizations as well. Rather than a song, they will make low, raspy, and powerful hoots. These hoots are usually made in pairs, and they can be heard for up to 7 miles. When threatened or distressed, they may hoot, hiss, whistle, or make a sharp, clacking sound with their beaks.

Habitat

Snowy owls are commonly found in the tundra regions surrounding the North Pole, which encompass parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are one of the more nomadic species of birds; however, because they must follow their prey, their habitat may shift depending on how much food is available.

During the breeding season, snowy owls stick closely to the treeless Arctic climate, but they can be found much farther south during the rest of the year. It’s common to spot them in the southern regions of Canada and even the northernmost regions of the United States once the breeding season is over.

Diet

Snowy owls are predators, which means that they survive on a carnivorous diet. They prefer to hunt and eat lemmings, and it is estimated that a single adult snowy owl can eat up to 1,600 lemmings in a year.

When they cannot eat their fill of lemmings, they supplement their diet with rodents, rabbits, fish, and even other birds. In fact, snowy owls have been known to take down birds as big as Canadian geese.

Snowy owls are patient and skilled hunters, and they spend much of their time sitting and waiting to see or hear their prey. They have developed adaptations like outstanding eyesight and keen hearing, so they are able to find prey even under dense snow or vegetation.

These owls, like other birds of prey, will swallow their food whole. The food is digested by strong stomach acid, and the indigestible parts, such as bone fragments, teeth, and fur, are regurgitated as a small, compacted pellet.

Predators and Threats

Like many animals, humans are considered to be the biggest threat to the snowy owl. Snowy owls are apex predators, which means that they are at the top of the food chain. Very few other animals hunt or kill these birds. Because of this, they often live long lives. In the wild, a snowy owl may live 10 years or more.

Adult snowy owls may fall victim to other birds of prey, but this is usually the result of a territory dispute rather than hunger. In general, the biggest threat that snowy owls face is the encroachment of humans on their habitat.

Reproduction, Babies, and Life Span

For the most part, snowy owls are monogamous. One male and one female will pair up during the breeding season, and they will remain together in an area that they have carved out as their territory for nesting and feeding. There are a few cases of a male breeding with two females in one season, but these are rare.

Breeding occurs from May through September, with each female only producing one clutch of eggs. The number of young often corresponds to the abundance of food in the area. If there is plenty of food, females have been known to lay up to 12 eggs at once. When food is scarce, they may only lay a couple of eggs, or they may skip breeding entirely for a year or more.

Snowy owls nest on the ground in dry areas covered by moss and rocks. They choose spots that are clear of tall vegetation for a better vantage, and they will spend a few days creating a “scrape,” or a shallow, bowl-shaped depression in the rock with their sharp talons. They do not add additional nesting materials to these scrapes.

Females will typically lay one egg every 2 to 5 days, and the female incubates them for about 32 days. Baby owls usually weigh less than 2 ounces, and they remain in the nest for about 21 days. Unlike many other owl species, baby siblings are not aggressive toward one another, and even when they are juveniles, most do not mind being in proximity to their families during particularly inclement weather.

After 3 to 4 weeks, owlets leave the nest and begin to roam, but they are still protected and fed by their parents. By the time a baby snowy owl is about 50 days old, it can successfully hunt and fly well on its own.

Population

The exact number of snowy owls in the wild is not known, but it is estimated that there are 14,000 to 28,000 globally. They are classified as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN. Vulnerable is one step below Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

This dramatic population decline is a result of habitat loss due to human behaviors, and there are a number of groups currently working on conservation efforts to preserve and restore their natural habitat.

Snowy Owl in the Zoo

Fortunately, there are zoos and aviaries all across the United States that feature exhibits of these beautiful and magnificent birds. Many zoos and aviaries participate in breeding programs to help bolster the snowy owl population. In captivity, these birds can live as long as 30 years.