About Snowy Owls
The males tend to have whiter feathers than do the females. As males age, their feathers get even whiter. The females have dark brownish feathers mixed in with their white feathers to help them blend in when nesting on the ground. Female snowy owls can lay 3-11 eggs. When food is plentiful, the females tend to lay more eggs than if food is scarce. The female will sit on the eggs, the male will bring her food while she is sitting on the nest.
Snowy owls have excellent eyesight and a keen sense of hearing. Both these senses are valuable for hunting. If they can’t see their prey under the snow, they can hear it. When hunting they tend to fly low to the ground and snatch the prey using their sharp talons.
Snowy Owls in the Wild
Habitat
These large owls mainly live in the Arctic in open, treeless areas called tundra.
Location
Native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia.
Diet
The snowy owl’s favorite food is the lemming. They also hunt other small rodents, rabbits, birds and fish.
Population Status
The IUCN Red List has the snowy owl listed as “least concern.” Though they are legally protected from shooting and trapping in the United States and in Europe.
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