Kingdom : Animalia Class : Aves Family : Strigidae Scientific Name : Bubo Scandiacus Size(H) : 60cm - 75cm (24in - 30in) Wing Span : 130cm - 164cm (51in - 65in) Weight : 1.1kg - 2kg (2.4lbs - 4.4lbs) Top Speed : 80km/h (50mph) Life Span : 10 - 17 years Colour : Black, White, Grey Skin Type : Feathers Distinctive Features : Black and white markings and large head
- Snowy owls are one of the largest owl species in the world found in the Arctic Circle.
- They are also known as the Great White Owl and the Arctic Owl.
- They inhabit the Arctic Circle across Greenland, Europe, Asia and Canada.
- That being said they have also been spotted throughout Asia and Europe and have also been seen in Texas and the Caribbean.
- They have bright white feathers that may be flecked with grey or black and have feathered feet.
- They have large eyes, a large head and a curved, sharp beak.
- This helps them camouflage as well as survive in the cold arctic circle.
- They grow to an average height of around 65cm and are known to have a wingspan of around 140cm.
- The Snowy owl is the official bird of Quebec.
- They choose their nesting site in ground very carefully considering the visibility from there and also the availability of food.
- They are omnivores, feeding mainly on lemmings, small rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, squirrels and even foxes and gophers.
- They swallow their food whole and regurgitate the bones later, as pellets.
- Interestingly, they need to eat around 5 mice or lemmings, every day, to survive and sustain themselves.
- Their natural predators are wolves, large foxes, wild dogs and humans.
- They breed during the month of May and the female snowy owl lays around 7-14 eggs.
- The eggs hatch out after an incubation after 5 weeks and the chicks are cared for by both the parents till they are able to fend for themselves.