Snowy Owl

Types of Typical Owls Barred Owl Burrowing Owl Great-horned Owl Screech Owl Spectacled Owl Types of Owls

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a year round resident of northern latitudes, up through the Arctic region.

Snowy owls feed on small mammals and birds in their territory and unlike most owls, they are most active during day light hours. The extreme temperatures and lack of additional competitors in their territory account for the diurnal behavior.

Also unlike their other owl relatives, their feathers are predominantly white, which serves as camouflage in their environment.

They do migrate south to avoid the extreme Arctic winter conditions. From time to time, eruptions of wintering Snowy Owl populations extend into United States territory, when food supply problems in their normal winter territories run low.

© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels