The Silent, Tranquil, and Elusive Snowy Owl
Snowy Owls...they're elusive, secretive, and a silent predator. Only a handful of animals can exist in the frigid, bleak Arctic region. The Snowy Owl has adapted to this open, perilous environment perfectly.
Though the Snowy Owl is globally known, not much is known about their global population. Ongoing research will help tell more about these animals.
Be sure to add your sighting to the Guestbook at the bottom to document your Snowy Owl sighting! Intro photo by Fool on the Hill.
Though the Snowy Owl is globally known, not much is known about their global population. Ongoing research will help tell more about these animals.
Be sure to add your sighting to the Guestbook at the bottom to document your Snowy Owl sighting! Intro photo by Fool on the Hill.
Where are Snowy Owls from?
Where the Snowy breeds and migrates
Snowy Owls - (Bubo Scandiacus, previously Nyctea Scandiaca)
Snowy Owls are a bird native to the unwelcoming, icy Arctic Tundra. In the months of warmer months of summer, these owls will stay within the Arctic Circle range. In the winter, the owls will migrate south to Canada, Russia, Greenland, Finland, Norway, France, and Scotland. They often visit the Great Plains of the Midwestern US. Some very rare cases documented migration in Florida, Texas, and internationally, South America and Bermuda. While venturing away from their home grounds, they typically will seek out areas similar to the Arctic tundra--wide open expanses, marshes, farms. Snowy Owls are seldom found in thick, tree-filled areas.
What do Snowy Owls Look Like?
The appearance of this beautiful bird!
These magnificent birds are typically white with brown markings, and bright yellow and black eyes. The male snowy owls are smaller and have fewer markings then their larger female counterparts, which can be substantially darker and larger. 
In the distance...a duck. In the foreground...a hungry swooping Snowy Owl!
Owl "Ears"
The function of Snowy Owl tufts
Once thought of by many as tuft-less owls, they have now been categorized in the same family as the Great Horned Owls. Though the snowy owls tufts (or ears, as some people may refer to them) are not always erect, they can be seen on occasion. You may be thinking this behavior these is related to hearing, but that doesn't seem to be true! However, they do seem to become erect when they get irritated.Snowy Owls typically are around 23-26" and between 40-70 ounces. A banding system helps keep track of some Snowy Owls across the world, but there are only so many volunteers and workers to keep track of this! Since this bird is so secretive, this makes your first-hand accounts even more important.
Snowy Owl Poll
Picture by doviende
It's not easy to see a snowy owl, especially if you don't live near their migratory areas. Be sure to describe any sightings you've had of Snowy Owls in our guestbook below, as well as voting here!
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Snowy Owls in the Tundra
Snowy Owls Have Adapted for Tough Conditions!
The toughest predator in the Arctic?
Based on their habitat, Snowy Owls are generally seen perched on the ground, resembling flat grassy tundra area. An interesting adaptation for snowy owls is related to there being no trees in the Arctic for roosting. Therefore a snowy owl, like all owls, must stay alert and is never truly in a deep sleep. Since they roost on the ground, this is a large factor in why they must remain so alert. Snowys are constantly moving their head, checking out their surroundings ensuring that there are no predators nearby that may be looking to prey on them.
Feathers
They also have small, super-fine feathers. These are so fine, in fact, that some people may think that it is fur. This helps give them the ability to withstand very cold temperatures. The feathers extend down the foot and toes of these birds to protect their feet from the icy grassland they call home. They have long pointed wings and hunt similar to falcons, taking prey on the wing.
Like Vice Grips!
Snowys have super-strong toes to catch and crush their prey...around 200 pounds of pressure per toe! They're fast, too, for an owl-- around 70 mph!
Snowy Owls on the Web
Check out these useful and informative Snowy Owl links!
Here are more Snowy Owl links on the web!
- Arctic Studies Center
- The Arctic Studies Center invites you to explore the history of northern peoples, cultures, and environments and the issues that matter to northern residents today.
- The Owl Pages
- Owls have fascinated man from time immemorial - to some cultures they are symbols of wisdom, while to others they are harbingers of doom and death. Here, The Owl Pages sheds some light on these mysterious creatures...
- Snowy Owls on Wikipedia
- The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. It is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl or the Great White Owl.
- Pictures of Snowy Owls
- Check out SNOWIES, a short film (12 mins) about snowy owls by Elliot Kennerson that is free to view online for anybody. Denver Holt, one of Montana's foremost owl researchers, appears in the film. The film documents an unusually large congregation of owls in northwestern Montana in 2006.
What do Snowy Owls Eat?
The range of diet for the Snowy
Snowy owls typically feed on lemmings, mice and rats, though it has been documented that they will prey on black ducks, Canadian Geese, short eared owls, American Kestrels, Starlings, Great Blue Herons, and even other Snowy Owls!
Snowy Owl Satellite Tracking
Keeping track of Snowy Owls to learn more about this mysterious bird
There are currently several projects being conducted in the United States studying the migrating patterns and breeding habits of the snowy owls. Some researchers have started using satellite telemetry to track Snowy Owls. to track these beautiful creatures between their wintering grounds and their breeding grounds.
Not much is know about the global population of this species, so they are currently not labeled endangered. Satellite tracking will help us tell more about this elusive species. Snowy Owls are a federally protected species under the migratory bird act. See the links below for more information.
Not much is know about the global population of this species, so they are currently not labeled endangered. Satellite tracking will help us tell more about this elusive species. Snowy Owls are a federally protected species under the migratory bird act. See the links below for more information.
- Satellite tracking of Norwegian Snowy Owls
- Snowy owls equipped with satellite transmitters in 1999 in Barrow, Alaska, crossed the Bering Strait the following autumn and spent the next summer along the Russian Arctic coast. One year later they were back in Arctic Canada! Due to the satellite transmitters of Albertine, Høst and Yngvar we now have the opportunity to find out if Scandinavian snowy owls participate in the same kind of long migrations between breeding seasons.
- Donate to the Snowy Owl Project
- Help get more satellite trackers on Snowy Owls so more can be learned about this elusive species! Visit this page, and be sure to specify "Snowy Owl Project" as the project you wish to support when donating!
Breeding Facts of the Snowy Owl
Where the Snowy breeds & how often
Photo right: by Steve B.Snowy owls breed in the Arctic Circle range, often in Alaska. Barrow, Alaska has been a huge Snowy breeding ground. In a lifetime, females will breed 1-9 chicks. If prey is scarce, they will not breed that year and wait it out until the next year. Eggs will be incubated in rotations to ensure different hatch times, therefore increasing the chance of survival. Snowys will have different mates each year, and do not mate for life.
A Snowy Owl from the backside gazing out on the open water for prey
Unique Snowy Owl Merchandise
Items for owl lovers
Click through any of these items to find more unique Snowy themed decor like t-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers and decor.
Snowy Owl Wall Clock
A beautiful Snowy Owl in flight over a night background on this wall clock.
Price: 24.99 
Snowy Owl Ornament (Round)
A close-up shot of the Snowy Owl on this round Christmas ornament.
Price: 8.99
Snowy Owl Landing, Mousepad
The perfect depiction of a Snowy Owl landing, something to see!
Price: 15.99
Help save snowy owls from harmful Arctic drilling.
Adopt a Snowy Owl!
With your $25 adotpion, you receive...
6" Tall Snowy Owl Plush
Personalized Certificate of Adoption
5x7 Snowy Owl Photo
Snowy Owl Fact Sheet
Click here to Adopt a Snowy Owl
Photo by hisgett
The perfect lookout to spot the next meal for this Snowy Owl
Recommended Snowy Owl Books
Read more about this amazing Arctic bird!
Read up more on Snowy Owls with these Amazon books!
Snowy Owl Food: Lemmings
One of the Snowy's favorite forms of nutrition!
Picture by kgleditsch
Lemmings are one of the biggest food sources for the Snowy Owls while they are in the Arctic region (a truly essential part of the food chain!).
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Lemmings: Falling into the Sea of Knowledge
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When the winds start to howl and the snow begins to blow you can capture your student's attention with this innovative Arctic Unit Study focusing on lemmings. Your little lemmings will be excited to learn with a theme that includes little furry crea...
Snowy Owl News
The latest news on Snowy Owls updated every 30 minutes...
- Who could forget seeing a snowy owl?
- It was a snowy owl. The big, ghost-like bird wasn't totally white as I might have expected. It had faint but darker barred markings on its wing tips and ...
- Human activities post biggest threat to Snowy Owls
- by Anita Fisher - Emmet County Naturalist Snowy Owls have very few natural predators but arctic fox, dogs and wolves will attack. Swift-flying jaegers and ...
- Scene in SLC: Holly Braithwaite
- (In fact... out of the 18 species of owls in North America, the Great Horned Owl is the second-largest just after the snowy owl!) What are some of the most ...
- ALWAYS IN SEASON: Snowy owls make their appearance in the area
- Nature is a better reporter than prognosticator, and it's wrong to think of snowy owls as a sign of things to come. But it's easy to understand how this bit ...
How can you Help the Snowy Owl?
Ways to help out the Snowy Owl...
Snowy Owls are so elusive that it's important to document sightings! This will help establish their range, where they are at certain points of the year, and ultimately, will help determine a global population. Spread the word about Snowy Owls and keep them educated! Please leave any Snowy Owl sightings in the Guestbook at the bottom of this page.
How Will Global Warming Affect Snowy Owls?
Loss of habitat due to rising sea levels will surely not be to Snowy Owls' advantage. Be sure to read the World Wildlife Federation's recommendations on stopping global warming.
How Will Global Warming Affect Snowy Owls?
Loss of habitat due to rising sea levels will surely not be to Snowy Owls' advantage. Be sure to read the World Wildlife Federation's recommendations on stopping global warming.
Picture by Fool on the Hill
Help the Snowy Owls!
To help them, we need to learn more about them! Help by donating to the Snowy Owl Satellite Tracking Project!
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Have you Ever Seen a Snowy Owl?
Tell us about your encounter with this bird here!
Like Snowy Owls? Have you seen one and would like to share the experience? Help document them by telling us about your sightings! Just want to say hello? Drop a line here!
Do you have a Snowy Owl picture of your own you'd like featured here? Contact us and we can possibly include the picture along with a link to your page right here!
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- arial arial Dec 19, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
- sooooooooooooooooo cute
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- natnickeep natnickeep Nov 3, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
- Love the lens! I love owls because my great grandma collected them. I made a lens devoted to her and owls. The snowy ones sure are beautiful, maybe when I vamp it up I will add some of them on there! 5* from me!
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- ikikiki ikikiki Oct 15, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
- white owls are so pretty
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- spirituality spirituality Jul 14, 2009 @ 8:04 am
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
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- JenOfChicago JenOfChicago Jul 1, 2009 @ 11:07 am
- I would love to see one someday... seems like I might have a chance in my neighbor state of Michigan?
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- jmsp206 jmsp206 Jul 1, 2009 @ 5:07 am
- Fantastic lens just loved It! What a beautiful bird and I would love to see one oneday!
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- jaye3000 jaye3000 Jun 30, 2009 @ 8:31 pm
- They're so beautiful~ I want one! :) Excellent job on your lens, five stars as usual lol :)
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- Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut May 20, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
- I've long been a fan of your lenses, and your community work here at Squidoo, but I have to say this is one of my favorite pages! Be sure to add all your animal pages to the SquiZoo group! Blessed and the works!
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- aj2008 aj2008 Apr 24, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
- What a beautiful lens. This family absolutely adores owls! I wonder if it may get even more traffic if you were to add a module about the most famous snowy owl in the world (as in Harry Potter)???
Blessed by an angel who would love to have wings like a snowy owl!
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- mukunda22 mukunda22 Apr 20, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
- Believe it or not, I saw a Snowy Owl in Lancaster Pa--It flew at my window as I was speaking to my brother on the phone about my recently deceased mom, about 20 years ago. Gave me the thrill of my life.
Several weeks later I was pondering this experience and thinking about my mom when a book fell inexplicably off the bookshelf.
It was a bird book and was opened to the page about the Snowy Owl.
Great lens about a Mighty Powerful Bird.
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- Ruth Ruth Jan 25, 2009 @ 10:58 am
- A few years ago I saw a Snowy Owl peeping out of a large hole in a tree about 20 feet up from the ground. This was right in the middle of town on the hospital property near Fountain Lake. It was a beautiful sight to see. There are very nice pictures on this lens. You are doing a great job.
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- Graceonline Graceonline Jan 24, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
- What beautiful images! I've never seen one, may never be near their habitat, and wouldn't want to see one in captivity, so thank you for this lens. Lovingly done, well-structured and written. Thank you, too, for including information and links about the effects of global warming.
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- Ken Ken Jan 24, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
- I was fortunate to see two snowy owls on Assateague Island National Seashore last week and did capture a few images. If you are interested the photos can be seen at: www.kencongerphotography.com
Blue Skies!
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- JustBon-Crochet-Designs JustBon-Crochet-Designs Jan 19, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
- Beautiful creatures and equally beautiful photographs :) 5*s
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- Chadrew Chadrew Jan 19, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
- Nice photos. Those snowy owls are really beautiful birds.
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- lakeerieartists lakeerieartists Jan 19, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
- I have a watercolor painting that I did of a snowy owl. If you want a copy for this lens, let me know and I will send it to you. Love them.
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- WendyKrick WendyKrick Jan 18, 2009 @ 7:35 am
- Very beautiful pictures. Loved it.
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- debnet debnet Jan 17, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
- Beautiful lens abouit a beautiful creature 5 hooting stars for you!
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Jan 16, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
- I learned something new -- "Snowy owls typically feed on lemmings, mice and rats, though it has been documented that they will prey on black ducks, Canadian Geese, short eared owls, American Kestrels, Starlings, Great Blue Herons, and even other Snowy Owls!" OMG, I seriously had NO idea that they had such an appetite!!!
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Jan 16, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
- Kiwi, those pictures are so beautiful, as are the snowy owls, very nicely done!
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- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Jan 16, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
- This is one of my favorite birds.
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- mulberry mulberry Jan 16, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
- Wow, the photos are great, such gorgeous birds.
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- AndyPo AndyPo Jan 16, 2009 @ 9:01 am
- Beautiful, interesting lens
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- HomeTowne_Market HomeTowne_Market Jan 16, 2009 @ 7:35 am
- So Beautiful! Very informative and the pic were perfect. Great lens!
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- mbgphoto mbgphoto Jan 11, 2009 @ 10:14 am
- Ver interesting. Beautiful birds.
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- Shelly Shelly Dec 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
- Hi, ou were just over to visit Tipi, so I followed you home and found that you have a bunch of topics I'm sure to enjoy. I have seen 5 Sowy Owls over the years. They are so magnificent that you never forget--my first one was when I was about 7 and I saw one last year--that is almost 50 years apart. Very nice lens you have here!
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- snaz snaz Dec 5, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
- Stunning, beautiful and stealthy creatures.
Living in the US, Northern Midwest (WI) I saw a magnificent Snowy Owl swoop, silently within feet overhead once as a teen.
It was an amazing experience that has stuck vividly in my memory.
It was a cold, moonlit winters night. Perfectly calm. Perfectly still...
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- dc64 dc64 Nov 8, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
- Oh my gosh, they are so pretty! Thanks for the work you've put into this. Superb!
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- Crichtonslover Crichtonslover Nov 2, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
- Amazing creatures! I never thought a small bird like this could prey on Heron and Geese! Beautiful though. :)
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- K_Linda K_Linda Nov 2, 2008 @ 7:49 am
- Very nice lens! I have never seen a snowy owl, but they sure look beautiful from the photos. Thanks for your emphasis on conservation. 5*'s.
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- naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Oct 30, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
- Fabulous lens. I have lensrolled it to Halloween - Why Cats, Bats.... Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Jun 11, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
- They are predators to lemmings, small rodents, birds, even artic foxes. the predator of the snowy owl includes humans, a sneaky artic fox perhaps.
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- sydney sydney Jun 5, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
- What is the snowy owl a predator to? hmm...i wonder...
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- CLC CLC Jun 2, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
- We are doing a project on this. it is helpful
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- eccles1 eccles1 May 24, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
- How beautiful!!
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- May 23, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
- Great lens, very informative, I really appreciate your effort.
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- LaraineRose LaraineRose May 20, 2008 @ 2:49 am
- I live in the B.C. in the Okanagan Valley. A male snow owl killed a robin which I had been watching. It happened in early springtime last year. Boy, was he fast! That Robin didn't have a chance. I enjoyed your lens. 5 stars, favorite, fan and lensrolled to my lens.
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- NooNoo NooNoo Apr 20, 2008 @ 8:17 am
- Great lens, very informative, thanks
John
Email Marketing Elite"
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- EliteClubs EliteClubs Apr 17, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
- This lens is great, very informative, thank you.
Eliteclubs
Email Marketing Elite
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- Susan52 Susan52 Apr 17, 2008 @ 11:12 am
- Beautiful birds! Very nice lens - I learned a lot!
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- dtbs dtbs Apr 17, 2008 @ 11:08 am
- such a beautiful bird! great lens! please check mine out at squidoo.com/dtbs
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Mar 28, 2008 @ 7:59 am
- Though we are terrified to visit the Lemmings believe that you have done a great job on this lens and want to let you know that there is a new group being formed in Squidooville. It's called A Walk in the Woods.
The exposure that your lens gets by joining will boost your lens rank and add to the number of web pages linking to your lens. Come take A Walk in the Woods.
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Mar 18, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
- Great Lens! I love studying the birds of prey, but the Snowy Owl is one I never expect to see.
Good Job!
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- EvieJewelry EvieJewelry Mar 18, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
- Terrific
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- sisterra sisterra Mar 12, 2008 @ 10:11 am
- I love all of your lenses!
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- beesknees-23 beesknees-23 Mar 12, 2008 @ 9:45 am
- Kiwi, another beautiful & immformative lens! Five paws up from Our Gang!!
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Recommended Owl Books (for more information on the Snowy and other species)
Well reviewed classic and highly informative owl guides
These informative owl guides, childrens books, and owl stories are some of the best ones out there on the Snowy Owl, as well as other owl species.
Snowy Owl Information on this Page:
Click on a link to take you directly to that part of the page!
- Where are Snowy Owls from?
- What do Snowy Owls Look Like?
- Owl "Ears"
- Snowy Owls Photos
- Snowy Owl Poll
- Snowy Owls in the Tundra
- Snowy Owls Have Adapted for Tough Conditions!
- Snowy Owls on the Web
- What do Snowy Owls Eat?
- Snowy Owl Videos
- Snowy Owl Satellite Tracking
- Breeding Facts of the Snowy Owl
- Help save snowy owls from harmful Arctic drilling.
- Snowy Owl Food: Lemmings
- Snowy Owl News
- How can you Help the Snowy Owl?
- Help the Snowy Owls!
- Have you Ever Seen a Snowy Owl?
- Recommended Owl Books (for more information on the Snowy and other species)
by kiwisoutback
The Snowy is a beautiful, elusive bird. To see how you can help, visit the Snowy Owl Telemetry Project page!
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