Snowy Owl

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

Unlike most owls, they are most active during day light hours. Their white feathers serve as camouflage in their environment and a lack of competitors suits their day light predatory behavior.

Snowy owls feed on small mammals and birds in their territory. They do migrate south to avoid the extreme Arctic winter conditions. However, their southern migration typically does not extend into United States territory, unless there are food supply problems in their normal winter territories.

The Snowy Owl in the picture was taken in Oregon, during an unusual winter eruption of these birds in along the West Coast of the United States.

© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels