Quantcast

Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacusOrder: STRIGIFORMESFamily: True Owls (Strigidae)

Breeding Location:

Seashore, rocky or sandy, Open landscapes, Marshes, freshwater, Swamps



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:

Fairly common on breeding grounds



Egg Color:

White, nest stained



Number of Eggs:

3 - 11



Incubation Days:

31 - 34



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Simple depression, unlined or minimally lined with moss, lichen, and plucked grass.



Migration:

Irregular



Splitbar

Overview

Snowy Owl: Large, white owl with variable black bars and spots. The head is round and lacks tufts, eyes are yellow, and the bill is black. Feathered feet and toes provide protection from the arctic cold. Direct flap-and-glide flight with powerful, deep wingbeats. North America's only all-white owl.

Range and Habitat

Snowy Owl: Found mainly in the tundra of North America; sometimes driven by search for food as far south as Oklahoma, northern Alabama, and central California. Preferred habitats include lakeshores, marine coastlines, and marshes; may roost on buildings in cities and towns.

Breeding and Nesting

Snowy Owl: Three to eleven white eggs are laid in a ground nest on top of an elevated rise, mound, or boulder. May not nest during years when lemming numbers are low. Eggs are incubated for 31 to 34 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Snowy Owl: Feeds mainly on lemmings and voles, but takes whatever food is available. Usually hunts from an elevated perch during the day. Prey is captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the water surface.

Vocalization

Snowy Owl: Male makes a loud, booming "hoo, hoo" given as a territorial advertisement or mating call; female rarely hoots. Attack call is a guttural "krufff-guh-guh-guk"; when excited emits a loud "hooo-uh, hooo-uh, hooo-uh, wuh-wuh-wuh." Other sounds include dog-like barks, rattling cackles, shrieks, hissing, and bill snapping.

Similar Species

Snowy Owl: Barn Owl has brown eyes, pale bill, brown-tinged back, and heart-shaped facial disk. Short-Eared Owl is smaller and browner.

.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family True Owl (Strigidae)_blue
Species Bubo scandiacus
Length20 - 27 Inches
Wingspan60 Inches

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl: Large, white owl with variable black bars and spots. The head is round and lacks tufts, eyes are yellow, and the bill is black. Feathered feet and toes provide protection from the arctic cold. Direct flap-and-glide flight with powerful, deep wingbeats. North America's only all-white owl.

● Song: "hoo-hoo", "kruff-guh-guh-guk", "hooo-uh, hoo-uh, wuh-wuh-wuh"

● Foraging & Feeding: Snowy Owl: Feeds mainly on lemmings and voles, but takes whatever food is available. Usually hunts from an elevated perch during the day. Prey is captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the water surface.

● Breeding & nesting: Snowy Owl: Three to eleven white eggs are laid in a ground nest on top of an elevated rise, mound, or boulder. May not nest during years when lemming numbers are low. Eggs are incubated for 31 to 34 days.

● Similar species: Snowy Owl: Barn Owl has brown eyes, pale bill, brown-tinged back, and heart-shaped facial disk. Short-Eared Owl is smaller and browner.

Flight Pattern

Direct flap and glide flight., Strong deep wing beats.
Snowy Owl Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Snowy Owl: Found mainly in the tundra of North America; sometimes driven by search for food as far south as Oklahoma, northern Alabama, and central California. Preferred habitats include lakeshores, marine coastlines, and marshes; may roost on buildings in cities and towns.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationFairly common on breeding grounds
MigrationIrregular
Weight64 Ounces