When spring comes in the Arctic tardra the male snowy owl stakes out a very definite amount of territory that is his home. It is about a mile wide an area that he is most familiar with. The male booms to mark his territory area, and to alert a female that he is home and she should join him for the nesting season. Once a couple pairs together, this teritory is their home during spring and summer. It is here, a few week's later in the year, that they will mate and raise their young.The nest of a snowy owl is made from pushed up ground. The female lays her egg - one pure white egg - she waits about four days before she lays another. The male brings her a lemmings to eat while she is siting on the eggs. This way, she can stay with the eggs to keep them warm and safe. If there isn't enough food in the tundra when the owlettes are born, they can die from starvation. So a snowy owl does not have many young. In a few hours an owlet is as hungry as a pig. They start to chirp so one of the parents shove small pieces of meat in to its mouth.
Looks and body features
A snowy owls ears are under their feathers so it look's as if they do not have ears. A snowy owl is all white exept it has black dots on it. When they are born it is a black-gray color.
Food and hunting
The snowy owl eat smaller birds and lemmings which are rat like rodents. They hunt with their feet and fly at night.
Behavior
In the long arctic summer the snow owl has but one choice, to hunt in the day time in the sun, to eat fresh meat of fish. The lemming and other small ground living creatures, such as voles, make up as much as 80 percent of it's food.
Habitat, environment, shelter and adaptation
The home of a snowy Owl is the frozen Arctic tundra. It is so cold because it is at the top of the world. The tundra look's like ice and has no trees.
Return to Bank Street
©2000
The Wild Ones
c/o Wildlife Trust
61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-8000
Tel: 845.365.8337 Fax: 845.365.8177