Snowy Owl

Habitat

Tundra, marshes and coasts.

Wild Diet

Mainly lemmings but also arctic hares, small rodents and certain birds.

Behaviour

Unlike other owls, the snowy owl rarely hunts during the hours of darkness; instead, it seeks its prey during the day, especially in the early morning and evening. The male is almost all white with just a few darker specks on his body. The female is larger, heavier and more heavily marked with dark bars on her upperparts, breast and belly.

Breeding

They lay 3-11, smooth, glossy white eggs during May in shallow scrapes in the ground or in rocks. The male feeds the hen, while she incubates the eggs for 32-33 days. The young are born with thin, white feathers but soon get a second coat of sooty, black feathers.

Threats

The main threat to this owl is hunting.

Conservation

This species has legal protection in some areas.