![]() In fact, snowy owls have been known to take down birds as big as Canadian geese. When they cannot eat their fill of lemmings, they supplement their diet with rodents, rabbits, fish, and even other birds. They prefer to hunt and eat lemmings, and it is estimated that a single adult snowy owl can eat up to 1,600 lemmings in a year. Snowy owls are predators, which means that they survive on a carnivorous diet. It’s common to spot them in the southern regions of Canada and even the northernmost regions of the United States once the breeding season is over. They are one of the more nomadic species of birds, however, because they must follow their prey, so their habitat may shift depending on how much food is available.ĭuring the breeding season, snowy owls stick closely to the treeless arctic climate, but they can be found much farther south during the rest of the year. Snowy owls are commonly found in the tundra regions surrounding the North Pole, which encompass parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. When threatened or distressed, they may hoot, hiss, whistle or make a sharp, clacking sound with their beaks. These hoots are usually made in pairs, and they can be heard for up to 7 miles. Rather than a song, they will make low, raspy and powerful hoots. They make many different types of vocalizations as well. This is more comfortable for them than perching in trees due to their short, broad legs. They spend much of their time sitting on the flat ground or slight elevations and searching for prey. Unlike many other owl species, snowy owls are crepuscular, which means that they are active during the day, primarily during dawn and twilight hours. They tend to be monogamous, and a pair will aggressively defend their territory. In general, snowy owls are solitary birds that do not prefer to socialize. These adaptations, along with dense layers of leg feathers, make them perfectly suited to their freezing habitat. They have golden yellow eyes, thick feathering, and long, heavy black claws. They have a small number of vestigial tuft feathers around their ears, but they are not noticeable from a distance and often do not stick out at all. Unlike many other owls they are related to, snowy owls do not have tall, distinctive ear tufts. In terms of weight, female snowy owls may weigh up to 6 pounds, and males may weigh up to 3.5 or 4 pounds. A female’s wingspan can measure up to 6 feet, but a male’s may only range from about 3.9 to 5.5 feet. As is common in birds of prey, females are generally larger than males.įemales average 21 to 28 inches in length, and males average from 20 to 25 inches. They are by far the largest owl in North America in terms of weight and wingspan, and they are the second heaviest and longest-winged in Europe. In terms of size, snowy owls are one of the largest owls in the world. See all of our entertaining and insightful animal articles.
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