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Snowy owl Special Feature Of That You May Not Know
Most of us have seen or read about the snowy owl named Hedwig in the Harry Potter books. Hedwig is a snowy owl and has played an important role in Harry's life. Snowy owls are identified by their white colored feathers and this becomes clear behind the origin of their name.
Snowy owls are beautiful birds found mostly in North America, the Arctic and the Palearctic. These birds are nomads and were first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. We know that most owls are active during the night but these white owls fly actively during the day which can be seen.
Snowy owl or white owl has significance in different types of cultures, apart from this, snowy owls have been associated with protection and power in American culture. There is a belief about this owl that if you see a white owl, it can be considered a sign of change and wisdom.
These owls are large in size and are widely known as arctic owls, white owls or polar owls. Over the years, due to human activity and loss of their habitat, the number of these owl species has decreased. Apart from this, snowy owls are now considered as a vulnerable species.
Let's take a closer look at the life of this snowy owl, where does the owl live, what does the owl eat and how long does the owl live. If you are fond of birds and animals and want to know about the life and behavior of birds and animals, then you can read other articles on kv facts.
Where Are Snowy Owl Found
Snowy owls are nomadic birds with a large geographical range and apart from this their range can vary. These snowy owls are birds found in the Arctic and North America whose breeding and wintering range is found separately because these owls are very adaptable birds.
The winter range of snowy owls includes Russia, British Isles, Iceland, Central Europe, northern region of China etc. and apart from this there is very little in Eastern European countries and Mediterranean regions. The wintering of these birds can be associated with the areas of the Bering Sea.
The breeding range of snowy owls is greatly affected by the presence of lemmings and these birds breed mainly in the tundra. Snowy owls can be seen in northern Russia, near Scandinavia and even as far north as Greenland.
Apart from all these places, these owl species can be seen in the North American ranges which include the western Aleutians, Bering Sea and from northern Alaska to Ellesmere. Let us also tell you that a snowy owl can eat three lemons per day and apart from this, snowy owls rarely breed twice in the same place.
Scientific Name Of Snowy Owl
The scientific name of snowy owl is Bubo scandiacus and their scientific name is made up of two Latin words. Bubo in Latin is translated as horned owl while scandiacus means Scandinavia.
These owls were earlier placed under the genus Nyctea but later it has been discovered that snowy owls are closely related to horned owls of the genus Bubo.
Snowy owls are extremely adaptable birds and the special thing is that they can adapt themselves to any kind of climate whether it is the harsh winter of the Arctic or the tundra. Apart from this, the large feathers of snowy owls enable them to protect themselves from heat and shivering cold.
Snowy owls mainly hunt mostly lemmings. But it also likes to hunt other creatures including passerines, ducks, even fish and insects.
Snowy Owl Habitat
The habitat of the snowy owl also depends on their breeding and non-breeding status. The breeding habitat of this owl is the open tundra of the Arctic where there are plenty of lemmings and many types of small mammals present for them to survive.
These birds choose low prominence as their nest and roosting sites. Let us also tell you that the non-breeding habitat of these birds consists of fields, marshes, beaches, ice packs, cities, towns and any type of open habitat. Snowy owls are considered solitary birds and can be territorial especially during the mating season.
Snowy Owl It is a beautiful and white owl of a true owl family. Snowy owls have many unique adaptations to its habitat and lifestyle which are quite different from other owls present. Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night but the snowy owl is active during the day mostly in the summer season.
This owl is a nomadic bird. It rarely breeds in the same place and does not breed often if there is no hunting. Apart from this, snowy owls can wander anywhere close to the Arctic and sometimes move south in large numbers.
How Do Snowy Owl Look Like
This owl is rarely misidentified due to its unique features and snowy owls are large sized owls. The length of this owl is about 20.7 to 25.2 inches and the feathers of these birds are white in color.
In their species, the feathers of male snowy owls look more white than female owls. Apart from this, the ear tufts of this bird are about 0.79 to 0.98 inches and have short feathers. The face of the snowy owl is completely white and their feet have long feathers and their claws are black. Read- Gorilla Interesting Information Will Really Surprise You
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Snowy Owl Length And Weight
The size of the snowy owl is about 20.7 to 25.2 inches i.e. 52.5 to 64 cm. The snowy owl is slightly larger than the great horned owl which is about 25 inches i.e. 60 cm in length. The male owl weighs about 1.3 to 2.4 kg and the female owl weighs about 1.3 to 2.9 kg.
What Do Snowy Owl Eat
Snowy owls are carnivores and these owls feed on a variety of small mammals such as lemmings, grassland voles and deer mice but will also take advantage of larger prey occasionally.
Large mammal prey of the snowy owl include rabbits, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, hares, raccoons, prairie dogs, rats. Apart from this, the birds that this white owl hunts include ducks, geese, shorebirds, pheasants, grouse, coots, grebes, gulls, songbirds, etc.
The population of these birds mostly revolves around their access to food and moreover their primary food source is lemmings.
Snowy Owl Nests And Eggs
Snowy owls often mate for life but polygynous behavior can sometimes occur and male owls may mate with two females nesting about a kilometer apart.
The breeding season is mostly from May to June. It has been observed that during breeding time the male owl performs courtship displays to attract a female owl or to strengthen the pair.
Snowy owls prefer to nest on the ground making a scrape on top of a mound or boulder. The female owl scrapes a small hollow before laying eggs and the female owl lays 3 to 11 eggs. In these birds, the pure white helpless babies are cared for by both parents.
Both the male and female owls protect the nest and their babies from predators. After 14-26 days of hatching, the owls start leaving the nest. They move around their territory and fledge after 7 to 8 weeks.
How Long Do Snowy Owl Live
The average lifespan of a snowy owl in the wild is about 10 years or so but in the zoo this owl can live up to 28 years.
How Fast Can A Snowy Owl Fly
These birds are more migratory and adaptable. Apart from this, it can be seen flying over the tundra, the Arctic during some time of the year and sometimes with North American birds at other times of the year. The speed of this owl has been determined to be about 74 kilometers per hour.
How Do Snowy Owl Communicate
The voice of the snowy owl is called hooting like other owls and the male bird is mostly seen singing as a courtship before mating. These owls can also hiss and whistle and sometimes even clap their beaks.
How Many Snowy Owl Are There In The World
The number of snowy owls has declined due to human activities and loss of their habitat. Apart from this, there were more than 200,000 present all over the world which has reduced to less than half of the population.
A recent survey has estimated that there are only 100,000 owls left out of which 28,000 are breeding pairs that can be found in the world. The conservation status of the snowy owl is listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN.
Nowadays the population of this bird has decreased a lot leaving half of its population worldwide. But snowy owls are extremely adaptable birds yet various reasons are responsible for their vulnerable status such as loss of habitat due to global warming.
The population of snowy owls also depends on the lemming population as their food source is decreasing and hence their numbers are decreasing. Apart from this, snowy owls are mostly killed by cars and electric wires. These owls are also hunted for their claws and unusual yellow eyes. Read- Painted Bunting Fun Information About Colorful Bird
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Snowy Owl Behavior
Snowy owls can be territorial but there have been no cases of snowy owls being dangerous. Harry may have Hedwig but he is not advised to keep a snowy owl as a pet as this bird species is vulnerable. Also, the number of this owl is already declining so it is not right to tame them without any purpose.
Snowy Owl Facts For Kids
1. How rare is the snowy owl?
Once estimated at over 200,000 birds, recent data suggest there are less than 100,000 left globally and the number of successful breeding pairs has fallen to 28,000 or even significantly less.
2. Do snowy owls change color?
In other places like the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and eastern Canada, these owls are very aggressive, appearing only in some winters but not in others. Male snowy owls appear dark gray when they are young and fade to white as they grow older. Female owls also retain some dark markings throughout their lives.
3. How old is the oldest snowy owl?
Male owls are smaller and mostly white than females and fade to white as they grow older. Females are larger and retain some brown and dark markings. The oldest known wild Snowy Owl was 23 years and 10 months old when it was recaptured and released during a banding operation in Massachusetts in 2015.
4. What is the rarest owl in the world?
The Pernambuco pygmy-owl is probably one of the rarest owls in the world and its only known habitat is in the northeastern state of Brazil known as Pernambuco.
5. Do snowy owls have ears?
Snowy owls are mostly referred to as “earless”, snowy owls have very small ears that are rarely visible except when the snowy owl is flying against a strong wind or when the female is on the nest.
6. What is the real name of the snowy owl?
These owls are considered to be one of the most attractive wildlife species in the world. They are the heaviest of all the owls in North America and apart from this their bright white feathers, large yellow eyes, large feathered feet and diurnal tendencies also attract nature lovers.
7. How intelligent are snowy owls?
Most owls do not have relatively large, well-developed brains and moreover do not show above-average intelligence when tested in captivity. Let us also tell you that in Western cultures, the myth of the wise owl probably arose because Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, is mostly depicted with an owl on her shoulder.
8. How many eggs can a snowy owl lay?
The female owl scrapes a small hollow before laying the eggs and the female owl lays 3 to 11 eggs. In these birds, the pure white helpless babies are cared for by both parents.
9. What is the name of a snowy owl baby?
A baby snowy owl is called a snowy owl and unlike other birds whose babies are called chicks, baby owls are called owlets.
10. Where do snowy owls sleep?
Owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but snowy owls are active during the day, especially in the summer. Apart from the breeding season, these owls lead a solitary life. They are also seen resting on the ground or on dunes, rocks, fences and buildings.