Common Name:
Snowy Owl
Scientific Name:
Bubo scandiacus
Unique Qualities:
Snowy owls are large birds, averaging 63 cm with a 145 cm wingspan. To blend in with their habitat, snowy owls are brownish in the summer and completely white in the winter. Unlike other owls, snowy owls hunt during the day and rest at night.
Can be Seen:
Snowy owls live in polar regions of North America, Europe and Asia. They are also very nomadic. When food sources are low, when it is very cold, large groups of snowy owls migrate into southern Canada, and even into the United States.
Likes to Hang Out:
The snowy owl likes open spaces like arctic tundra. You probably won't ever see one in a tree. When they fly south, snowy owls choose farm fields and airports. If you're lucky, you may even see one nesting on a building in your town.
Likes to Eat:
Snowy owls hunt for lemmings and other small rodents with lots of patience. They sit still and turn their head 270, looking for prey. Snowy owls also like to eat squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, rats, ducks, geese, and even other kinds of owls.
Status:
Snowy owl populations are now healthy because hunting snowy owl has been banned.
