The Snowy Owl is a large distinctive owl,
notable for it's large body with a relatively
small head and white plumage. Snowy Owls
breed on the arctic tundra of both Eurasia
and North America and in winter they usually
migrate south to warmer places.
Their large weight, compact shape & dense
plumage with feathers down to the toes,
enable the Snowy Owl to survive extremely
low temperatures. The adult male is virtually
pure white, but females and young birds
have some dark speckles.
Snowy Owls are powerful hunters with a wide
range of prey types including birds & mammals.
Variations in availability of prey means Snowy
Owls will range over large areas in search of
food. Unusually for owls they will eat carrion.
They nests on the ground, building a scrape
on top of a mound or boulder. A site with good
visibility, ready access to hunting areas, and a
lack of snow is chosen. A clutch of upto 14 eggs
are laid over a period of several days, with
hatching occuring around 35 days after laying.
