The Great White Owl of the North
The Snowy Owl is often referred to as the Great White Owl. It is an apt description. It is a magnificent bird and quite a sight to see. It is a nocturnal bird of prey that inhabits the northern regions during mating season, but migrates to warmer regions in the winter.
Description
Snowy Owls are one of the largest North American Owls. It is 20 to 26 inches in length and has a wingspan of 3 to 3 ½ feet. The adult male is mostly white with narrow brown bars and spots. The females and the juveniles are more heavily barred and the spots are more predominant. The Snowy Owl's plumage is thick and its feet heavily feathered. Its eyes are small and gold in color and its beak dark and sharply pointed.
Range and Habitat
During breeding season the Snowy Owl resides in the northern regions of Alaska and Canada. In the winter they can be found in the northern United States. They have been spotted as far south as Florida, California, and Texas.
The Snowy Owl prefers the arctic tundra or open grasslands and fields. They rarely venture into forested areas, even in their southward trek.
Snowy Owls: Who are They?
Snowy Owls: Who Are They?
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/16/2009)
Product Description
Whoo . . . has catlike yellow eyes and white feathered feet, lives alongside polar bears and caribou way up north, loves to eat lemmings for lunch, and is Harry Potter s faithful friend? The Snowy Owl, that s whoo! This striking bird is the heaviest of the North American owls. Unlike most owls, it hunts mainly during the day, so if you re in the right place you might actually get to see one catch its prey.
Mating and Nesting
Courtship can begin as early as March. To attract and impress a female, the male will fly in undulating patterns whenever females are around. Once he lands, he will fluff his feathers, spread his wings, and strut around. He will even make a kill and offer it to the female.
Once mating occurs, the Snowy Owls make a nest on the ground. They build a scrape on top of a mound or boulder with good visibility and easy access to hunting areas. Breeding usually occurs in May. The clutch size varies depending on the availability of prey. It can range 3 and 14 eggs. The incubation period varies but is approximately 5 weeks in length. The owlets are protected and cared for by both parents.
Diet
The Snowy Owl is a carnivore. It feeds on a variety of mammals from mice to rabbits. They will prey on small songbirds, geese, and lemmings as well.
Unlike most owls, the Snowy Owl hunts during daylight hours. They are patient hunters and will sit and wait for prey to wander into striking range. Spotting prey on the ground or in the air, the Snowy Owl will swoop down and sink its talons into its prey and breaks its neck with its beak.
It is not uncommon for a nesting Snowy Owl to eat 2 lemmings a day. A family of Snowy Owls can consume up to 1,500 lemmings before the young strike out on their own.
Snowy Owls
Voice
The Snowy Owl has several calls. Their alarm call is krek-krek-krek-krek or a pyee-pyee-pyee. They also clap their beaks when annoyed.
Interesting Trivia
1. Snowy Owls in captivity have lived for 28 years or more, but Snowy Owls in the wild rarely live beyond 9 years.
2. The Snowy Owl is frequently referred to as the Arctic Owl or the Great White Owl.
3. It is a daytime hunter.
4. The Snowy Owl is a nomadic bird. Their movements are tied to the abundance of prey.
5. Hedwig, Harry Potter's owl was a Snowy Owl. In the story Hedwig was a female but in the movie her part was played by a male.
Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars
Perfect for spotting and watching the Snowy Owl.
The Nikon Monarch Binoculars
The waterproof, fog-free Nikon binoculars are perfect for outdoor use. Bright, beautifully defined images are delivered by superior quality, multilayer coated lense.O-ring seals and nitrogen gas provide added resistance to the effects of changes in climate, while the durable design and rubber armoring ensure reliable performance and a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use. Worry-free viewing of the great outdoors.
Some of My Favorite Owls
Little Brothers
The Barred Owl
The Common Barn Owl
The Eastern Screech-owl
Big Brothers
The Great Grey Owl
The Great Horned Owl
The Snowy Owl
Owls of the United States and Canada
Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior
Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 12/16/2009)
Wayne Lynch began work as a full-time science writer and photographer in 1979. Today he is the author of numerous award-winning books and television documentaries and one of Canada's best-known and most widely published photographers.
Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival
Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
Reviews Posted on Amazon.com
A fascinating portrait of 205 species of owl... explores myth and legends... intriguing facts are brought to light. -- Suzanne Hively, Cleveland Plain Dealer 11/26/2003
Copious color photographs effectively illustrate concepts and enhance the book's visual appeal... a valuable addition to any natural history collection. -- Catherine Jeanjean, Library Journal 12/01/2003
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
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- BevsPaper BevsPaper Oct 31, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
- Such majestic and beautiful creatures the Snowy Owls are. Lovely photos! Spreading my Angel Wings to give you a blessing.
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Jul 19, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
- They are so beautiful, I love the photos on your lens, great info! Linda
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- Tipi Tipi Feb 21, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
- Lizzy, this a wonderful Snowy Owl lens! - I love visiting your lenses because they are so informative about the different breeds. I just love anything about animals and nature it seems. Real a beautiful bird, and I've had the good fortune of seeing many of them. I seen one pick up a kitten out of our yard once, wasn't anything I could do to stop it as a youngster.
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- Shelly Shelly Jan 24, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
- Just noticed you in one of Tipi's guest books and flew on over right behind you. Also visited Ms Betty Boop, we have a few of her images around the house. First I was at your Peregrin Falcon lens. Once I heard a naturalist say, "other birds just flap, Peregins fly", some things one never forgets as that was way back when Tipi and I lived with our parents, just after the last ice age. Couldn't leave messages on the other lenses, alas, because they just aren't open to non-members.
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- mukunda22 mukunda22 Jan 16, 2009 @ 11:31 pm
- The snowy owl came flying at me one time soon after my mother died. My brother and I happened to be talking about her on the phone at the time of the incident.
Another time, I was thinking of her and a bird book fell off the shelf and opened to the Snowy White Owl.
That got my attention!!
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About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 4,012 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 200 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America
by Chris G. Earley
Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America
Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 12/16/2009)
A nice handy guide to hawks and owls, especially for beginners and less experienced birders... Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife Activist 06/2004
An excellent identification guide... the photos are well chosen... the text is clear and concise. Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune 08/18/2004
Resources used to construct this page.
Lynch, W. 2007. Owls of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Carolina Raptor Center
Snowy Owl, Owling.com
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Snowy Owls, University of Minnesota Raptor Center
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by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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