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 |
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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.
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