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Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacusOrder: STRIGIFORMESFamily: True Owls (Strigidae)

Snowy Owl Portrait
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General

Snowy Owl: Large, white owl with variable black bars and spots. Head is round and without tufts, eyes are yellow, and bill is black. Female and juvenile are more heavily marked with black.

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.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"hoo-hoo", "kruff-guh-guh-guk", "hooo-uh, hoo-uh, wuh-wuh-wuh"

Interesting Facts

  • Unlike most owls, the Snowy Owl has the ability to hunt during the day. This is due to the fact that it does not get dark during the summer months in the Arctic.
  • They are white because of a lack of pigment in their feathers. This leaves more room for air, which increases the insulating ability of the feathers.
  • Snowy Owls have feathers on their feet to provide extra protection from the severe cold of the Arctic.
  • A group of owls has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "glaring", "parliament", "stooping", and "wisdom" of owls.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Snowy Owl
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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
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