Snowy Owl, the frosty mystique of the Arctic, is like nature’s masterpiece. If you want to experience their majestic experience, then you have to go through the beauty and harshness of the North where it inhabits.
Their adaptation to harsh weather and their migratory patterns are what make them interesting.
Moreover, if you’re into wildlife photography or art, then this species will provide you with a plethora of creative opportunities.
The unique charm of the Snowy Owls will turn you into a fan of their well-orchestrated nature. Moreover, you can contribute to raising awareness about this species to help conserve their habitat.
So, in this article, we have gathered all the information about snowy owls so that you can experience their quirky nature without going outside.
Let’s get acquainted with our frosty feathered friends!
Contents
Snowy Owl: How To Identify?
Source: @1rednaxela
- Scientific Name: Bubo scandiacus
Irrespective of gender, Snowy Owls have large bodies with a sizable wingspan. They are one of the largest owl species with a round, robust body and a round head.
Their feet are full of white and dense feathers, making them seem like they are wearing furry slippers. Their eyes have a striking yellow color.
They exhibit iconic pure white plumage and black markings on their bars, spots, flecks, and wing feathers.
Male Vs. Female Snowy Owls Visual Comparison
Male and female Snowy Owls can be distinguished by their plumage, though individual variations do occur. However, both of them have similar intense yellow eyes and black beaks on their overall white plumage.
Here are a few key distinctions:
Male Snowy Owl
Source: @scottadoner
- Size: 52.5 to 64 cm (20.7 to 25.2 in)
- Average Weight: 1,465 to 1,808.3 g (51.68 to 63.79 oz)
- Wingspan: 116 to 165.6 cm (46 to 65 in)
- Wing Chord: 35.1 to 43.9 cm (13.8 to 17.3 in)
- Tail: 20.96 to 23.54 cm (8.25 to 9.27 in)
- Culmen (Median Average): 2.63 cm (1.04 in)
- Bill: 3.56 cm (1.40 in)
- Tarsal: 5.3 to 7.2 cm (2.1 to 2.8 in)
Due to sexual dimorphism, male Snowy Owls are relatively smaller, with more extensive and darker markings.
The size and shape of the black markings around the eyes tend to be more pronounced. The size of the bill and feet in the makes are slightly smaller.
As they get older, the males become duller in color.
Female Snowy Owl
Source: @stevebiro
- Size: 54 to 71 cm (21 to 28 in)
- Average Weight: 1,706.7 to 2,426 g (60.21 to 85.57 oz)
- Wingspan: 146 to 183 cm (57 to 72 in)
- Wing Chord: 38 to 47.73 cm (14.96 to 18.79 in)
- Tail: 22.85 to 25.44 mm (9.00 to 10.02 in)
- Culmen (Median Average): 2.79 cm (1.10 in)
- Bill: 3.56 cm (1.40 in)
- Tarsal: 5.4 to 7.5 cm (2.1 to 3.0 in)
The female Snowy Owls are relatively larger, with a 25 to 30% larger body size than the males.
The size of the beak and feet are larger in females as well. They have fewer dark markings on their heavily streaked bodies.
The females usually have similar vibrant plumage regardless of their age.
Male Vs. Female Comparison At A Glance
Here’s a short and easy table for you to quickly understand and compare the traits of a male Snowy Owl and a female Snowy Owl.
| Category | Male Snowy Owl | Female Snowy Owl |
| Size | Slightly smaller | Slightly larger |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Wingspan | Slightly smaller | Slightly larger |
| Tail | Relatively smaller | Relatively larger |
| Culmen (Median Average) | Slightly smaller | Slightly larger |
| Tarsal Length | Slightly smaller | Relatively larger |
| Color | Mostly all white with some dark markings | Generally more heavily marked with dark lines and spots on feathers |
| Feather Pattern | Less dark barring on the tail and wings | More extensive dark barring on the tails and wings |
| Facial Disc | Whiter with less extensive dark markings | Heavily marked facial disc with thicker dark outlines |
| Eyes | Typically lighter, yellow eyes | Usually darker, more intense yellow or orange-yellow eyes |
| Beak Color | Ivory or pale yellow beak | Dark, blackish beak with a pale base |
| Size of Spots on Head | Smaller, sparser spots on the head | Larger, more numerous spots on the head |
| Behavior | More aggressive during mating season | Calmer demeanor during the mating season |
Range
Primarily, Snowy Owls are endemic to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic. However, they breed mostly on the tundra.
- North America: This species is endemic to the Arctic regions of North America, Northern Canada, Alaska, and as far south as the northern contiguous states. Sometimes, they even migrate south to the Northern United States, especially during food scarcity.
- Eurasia: Snowy Owls are found in northern parts of Europe and Asia in Eurasia. Occasionally, their range extends across northern Scandinavia, northern Russia, and Siberia.
- Greenland and Iceland: Snowy Owls are also found near Greenland and Iceland.
Habitat
Source: @jimcummingphotography
Snowy owls are typically found in distinct and specialized habitats, particularly during breeding season and, to a lesser extent, during winter migrations.
- Arctic Tundra: During the breeding season as well as the non-breeding season, Snowy Owls tend to inhabit most of the Arctic tundra. It’s a vast, treeless landscape that is situated across the northern reaches of North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Coastal Areas: Along with Arctic Tundra, you can easily spot the coastal areas, especially during the winter migration. This type of habitat has rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, and open water.
- Open Grasslands and Agricultural Fields: During the winter migration, the Snowy Owls prefer residing near open grasslands, agricultural fields, and meadows as they resemble Tundra breeding grounds.
- Marshlands and Wetlands: This species is an occasional visitor to wetland areas, marshes, and lakeshores during migration for all the water-associated prey.
- Sparse Vegetation and Treeless Landscapes: They prefer habitats with fewer trees and minimal vegetation that help them locate their prey from a distance.
Dietary Preferences
Snowy owls primarily feed on rodents, particularly lemmings, and may need to eat several of them daily to survive in extremely cold weather.
Among the mammals they hunt, lemmings are their favorite food. They also prey on voles and mice.
They frequently eat birds such as passerines, northern seabirds, ptarmigans, and ducks. They will occasionally consume other prey, such as carrion, beetles, crustaceans, amphibians, human-compromised prey, and fish. More than 200 prey species have been identified in their diet.
Snowy owls typically hunt small mammals. Nonetheless, they can adapt and hunt much larger prey when the opportunity arises, including relatively large mammals and a diverse range of large bird species at various ages.
Summer Diet
During summer, the species inhabiting the tundra ecosystem depend on lemmings, especially brown lemmings (Lemmus genus) and collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx genus), and herbivorous rodents for a major part of their diet.
If they can not find lemmings, then they consume passerines, shorebirds, waterfowl, ptarmigans, and squirrels in certain regions of the Arctic.
As an opportunistic species, they also feed on European rabbits, Eurasian oystercatchers, parasitic jaegers, Eurasian whimbrel, and other birds when breeding.
Occasionally, they scavenge on carrion, including reindeer, polar bears, walrus, and whales. Their diet largely varies based on their habitat choice.
Winter Diet
Source: @sasalin_photography
During winter, the Snowy Owls depend on a more diverse diet than their breeding season. These dietary preferences change based on their geographical preferences.
During this period, they feed on nocturnal prey, such as Peromyscus mice and northern pocket gophers.
Typically, they feed on moderately sized water birds like teal, horned grebes, glaucous-winged gulls, American wigeons, and various alcid birds.
Moreover, they forage on black rats, red phalaropes, meadow voles, white-footed mice, northern short-tailed shrews, and various bird species in different locations.
Foraging Techniques
Snowy owls can hunt both at night and day, except during severe weather. They employ their keen vision to locate their prey and may detect from as far as 1.6 kilometers away.
They have different variations of hunting techniques, including sitting on a perch, taking a sudden accelerated flight from a perch, hovering in high winds, stooping down onto prey, and flying with a “sweep” method.
Moreover, they can employ “snow plunge” to hunt prey covered under the snow. During food scarcity, they depend on their thick subcutaneous fat deposits.
Snowy Owls are known for possessing strong stomach juice that helps them digest flesh and regurgitate indigestible parts like bones, teeth, fur, and feathers in oval pellets.
Vocalization
The adult Snowy Owls can produce a wide range of up to 15 different vocalizations. The most common call that they produce is a monotonous one with 2 to 6 rough notes.
It has a barking quality that can be described as a “krooh krooh krooh krooh” note. In addition, this species also produces an “aaoow” sound.
The males produce a multipurpose “krooh” call that is produced while competing with other males, attracting females, etc. The females make a similar high-pitched noise.
They also make a screaming note, a “khuso” sound, chirping, etc. While defending their nest, they produce a crow-like “ca-ca-oh” call.
Their distinctive raspier bark-like call named “watchman’s rattle” sounds like “rick, rick, rick, ha, how, quack, quock, or kre, kre, kre, kre, kre.”
Breeding
Source: @kiliiiyuyan
- Breeding Season: Between May and September
Typically, the Snowy Owls are monogamous. However, there have been cases of different variations of bigamy and incidental polyandry as well. They usually breed only once per year and will skip due to food scarcity.
Depending on food availability and owl density, the breeding territories are usually 2.6 km².
Males claim their territories through singing, offering lemming, displaying flights involving wing beats, ground displays, etc. The females respond with their songs.
Parental Care
Source: @owlresearchinstitute
Usually, males bring food to their nests while the females brood the young. The males also store the surplus food nearby.
The females feed the younglings the softer part of the prey and cover them with their wings for protection.
They aggressively defend their nests, especially against humans. The males play a significant role in this, and the females occasionally join in.
They perform the “broken wing” act to distract the predators as well as attack the intruders with dive-bombing and engaging in forward-threat displays.
Nesting
Source: @owlresearchinstitute
The Snowy Owls arrive at their nesting site around April or May, and usually, the males choose the nesting sites by scratching the ground or spreading their wings over the site.
Unlike their name, the nesting sites are usually snow-free and dry, avoiding areas that obstruct their view, and the nests are a shallow depression on a windswept eminence in the open tundra.
They create their nests on ridges, elevated mounds, high polygons, hummocks, hills, human-made mounds, or rocky outcrops.
Female Snowy Owls usually play an active role while nesting. They also make a second nesting site beside the main one to cover themselves during harsh weather.
Here’s a table that will provide you with the idea of their nesting facts all at a glance:
| Clutch Size | 7 to 9 eggs or 15 or 16 eggs |
| Number of Broods | 1-brood |
| Egg Size | 5.64 to 4.47 cm (2.22 to 1.76 in) |
| Egg Height | 5 to 7.02 cm (1.97 to 2.76 in) |
| Egg Diameter | 4.1 to 4.93 cm (1.61 to 1.94 in) |
| Average Weight | 53 to 60.3 g (1.87 to 2.13 oz) |
| Incubation Period | 31.8 to 33 days |
| Nestling Period | 18 to 25 days |
| Egg Description | Pure Glossy White. |
| Hatchlings Weight | 20 to 50 g (0.71 to 1.76 oz) |
Behavior
Source: @best_birds_planet
Based on the seasonal and local conditions, Snowy Owls can be active during both day and night.
They are most active during the twilight of Arctic summer, while in winter, they are active during nightfall.
In general, they are least active during noon and midnight. They tend to adjust their activity patterns depending on daylight duration, with longer days leading to increased activity in the evening.
Snowy owls are pretty tough when it comes to dealing with freezing temperatures, thanks to their cozy feathers.
Outside the breeding season, they become aggressive and territorial, having occasional fights with other snowy owls. However, during the breeding season and in winter, they are calm.
Sometimes, they point their whitest plumage toward the sun as a signal to conspecifics or for thermoregulation.
During winter, females become more territorial and stay in one place for up to 80 days. The males are typically nomadic and stay for 1 to 2 days in one area.
When threatened, snowy owls adopt specific postures, such as lowering the front of their body and raising their back. Males frequently exhibit more pronounced threat displays than females.
Snowy owls are not truly semi-colonial, though nesting sites can be somewhat clustered due to concentrated prey. Pairs are generally intolerant of one another.
Snowy owls are usually solitary during the winter, but they may band together at times, especially in the Arctic, where food is scarce.
Migratory Behavior
Source: @rick_welsh
Snowy Owls are partial migrants with irregular wintering range. Migratory movements are more common in America than in Asia.
Even as partial migrants, They can cover a wide range with their movements, sometimes spanning thousands of kilometers. However, these can vary depending on the subspecies and geographical areas.
Some Snowy Owl species are loyal to specific wintering sites. The frequency of these sites depends on the availability of food.
There have been certain occurrences of irruptions or sudden population increases in Canada and the United States. However, these irruptions are not regular, and they don’t always depend on food availability.
During the irruptive years, almost 90% of them are juveniles.
Lifespan & Population
- Maximum Lifespan (In the Wilderness): 9 years and 5-months
- Status: Vulnerable
Snowy Owls in the wilderness can live up to around ten years and have a relatively long life for a bird.
In captivity, with proper food and habitat, they can live up to 25 to 30 years. They have a high survival rate in the wild, with about 85 to 92.3% for some populations.
They can survive the harsh weather of winter. However, they frequently die due to starvation after leaving the breeding grounds.
Some adults return to the same wintering habitat in subsequent years, even if they are far south of their breeding range.
Population
Snowy Owls are nomadic species, which makes it harder to speculate their population, even in long-term studies.
According to an estimation in the 2000s, they have a global population of about 200,000 to 290,000 members.
During the same period, in North America, there were about 72,500 Snowy Owls, where 30% of the members were juveniles. However, in 1960, there was almost a 52% decline in numbers and an even more drastic decline from 1970 to 2004.
Canada had a range of 10,000 to 100,000 Snowy Owl members across their habitat.
Threats
The majority of snowy owl deaths in the northern Great Plains were caused by traumas such as vehicle collisions, electrocutions, and shootings, with only a small percentage due to apparent starvation.
According to research, fat reserves in snowy owls vary, with females having greater reserves than males. Some males were discovered starving or in poor health.
Due to lowered immunity, snowy owls may be more susceptible to blood parasitism. Snowy owls had lower levels of ectoparasites, such as chewing lice, than other large owls.
During exceptionally prolonged rains, young snowy owls leaving the nest are vulnerable to starvation, hypothermia, and pneumonia.
Snowy Owl Similar Species
There are different variations of Owl species. Among them, Barn Owls resemble Snowy Owls the most.
Let’s take a look at the similarities and dissimilarities between them.
Barn Owl
Scientific Name: Tyto alba
Despite all the differences, the Barn Owl and Snowy Owl share a few subtle similarities for being part of the same order.
Both species have facial disks around their eyes in a circular shape. Similar to other owl species, both of them have large, forward-facing eyes.
Both birds have sharp talons and curved beaks with rounded heads. Some owl species may exhibit true ear tufts, but these two don’t.
Snowy Owls and Barn Owls exhibit ruffled feathers, especially when they are trying to conserve warmth and energy.
They both have different color patterns on their bodies that evolve into camouflage patterns, helping them to blend into their respective habitats.
Differences
One of the most obvious differences between the Snowy Owl and the Barn Owl is their appearance.
Snowy Owls have a larger size range with pure white plumage and some black markings.
Barn Owls, on the contrary, possess a heart-shaped pale face with a light-colored body and reddish-brown to grayish-brown specklings.
Fun Facts About Snowy Owl
One of the most fascinating aspects about Snowy Owls is their adaptability to cold, harsh weather. They can withstand 68.8 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 56 degrees Celsius).
They are one of the birds that are famous among both bird enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts for their appearance in popular culture.
Most Owl species are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. However, the Snowy Owl often becomes active during the day as well, especially during summer.
From Native American culture to the Hollywood movie Harry Potter, the symbolism of this species is numerous.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about snowy owls, along with their answers:
Q: Why do Snowy Owls smile?
Ans: According to the bird behavior expert Kevin McGowan, the smile of a Snowy Owl is not actually a smile but rather a panting bird.
Q: Can snowy owls be kept as pets?
Ans: No, of course not. The Snowy Owls are already a vulnerable species, so keeping them as pets would be illegal and unethical. They require specialized care and habitat that can’t be provided in a typical household.
Thoughts
Now that you know all the quirks of Snowy Owls, you might want to hang out with these Arctic beauties.
But don’t get too comfortable around them as they like to keep their privacy. Make sure to stay at least 100 to 150 feet away from them and let them enjoy their peace.
If you still want to have a closer look, then I suggest you get your binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens so that you can enjoy their fabulous presence without bursting their personal bubbles.
However, while using your cameras, make sure to avoid flash photography. They are the celebrities of the avian world that love their peace and quiet. So, make sure to be patient around them.
Most importantly, spread the word and create awareness among your friends and family and educate them about the importance of respecting wildlife.
Happy Owl watching, everyone!
