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| MEASUREMENTS: The Snowy Owl has a body length of 20 - 27 inches, a wingspan of 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 feet, and weighs 3 1/2 - 6 pounds. |
 HABITAT: Snowy Owls are circumpolar and live in the tundra regions between tree line and the polar seas in the Northern Hemisphere. This owl may move south out of its normal range during low prey winters. This is known as irruption. |
| DIET: Lemmings and other voles are the main food of the Snowy Owl, but they will also prey upon other mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects. This owl has many hunting strategies, including swooping onto prey from a perch, taking birds in the air or from the surface of the water, and snatching prey while walking on the ground. |
| REPRODUCTION: Snowy Owls usually nest on the ground on an elevated site. The number of eggs laid is highly variable (0 - 9 or more), depending on the availability of prey. The eggs are incubated for 31 - 33 days. The young owls leave the nest at 3 - 4 weeks, before they are able to fly, and do not master flight until they are about 8 weeks old. Parents care for their young for about 4 months. These owls are able to breed at 2 years and they are one of the longer lived owls. |
| NAME DERIVATION: The scientific name comes from the Greek word nycteus, meaning nocturnal, and the Latinized name for Scandinavia, where the first specimen was collected. The common name refers to the white plumage. This bird has also been referred to as the Arctic Owl or Great White Owl. |
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Owls living at higher, colder latitudes, like the Snowy Owl, tend to have more heavily feathered legs and toes, compared to owls in lower, warmer latitudes. This trend is observed between birds of the same species, like Barred Owls in Wisconsin compared to Barred Owls in Florida, or between species, like the Snowy Owl and the Burrowing Owl.
- When a clutch is laid, each egg is laid 2 - 5 days apart. The female starts incubation when the first egg is laid. This results in staggered hatching, so a group of chicks could range greatly in age and size.
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