Quick Facts
- Type
- Bird
- Size
- 52–71 cm body; up to 1.5 m wingspan
- Weight
- 1.6–2.9 kg
- Habitat
- Arctic tundra, wintering farther south
- Diet
- Lemmings, other small mammals, and birds
- Active Time
- Often active by day (diurnal)
- Lifespan
- About 10 years in the wild
Field Notes
- Unlike most owls, snowy owls often hunt during daylight.
- Their breeding success rises and falls with the local lemming population.
- Thick feathering covers their legs and toes against Arctic cold.
About the Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is a large white owl of the Arctic tundra, made famous to many by popular culture. Males are nearly pure white, while females and young birds show dark flecks that help camouflage them against snow and rock. Unlike most owls, it is active in daylight, a necessity in the land of the midnight sun, and hunts mainly small mammals such as lemmings, whose numbers can shape its breeding success. In winters when food is scarce, snowy owls may wander far south of their normal range.
Keep exploring
Related animals
Peregrine Falcon
Mandarin Duck
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Indian Peafowl
Atlantic Puffin
Vervain Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
American Flamingo
Emperor Penguin
Toco Toucan
Chestnut-bellied Guan
Spot-winged Wood Quail
Or spin for another random animal on the explorer, or browse all species in the full directory.