Snowy Owl || Description, Characteristics and Facts!
The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the true owl family. It is sometimes also referred to, more infrequently, as the polar owl, white owl and the Arctic owl. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. It has a number of unique adaptations to its habitat and lifestyle, which are quite distinct from other extant owls. One of the largest species of owl, it is the only owl with largely white plumage. Males tend to be a purer white overall while females tend to more have more extensive flecks of dark brown. Juvenile male snowy owls have dark markings that may appear similar to females until maturity, at which point they typically turn whiter. The composition of brown markings about the wing, although not foolproof, is the most reliable technique to age and sex individual snowy owls.
Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is often active during the day, especially in the summertime. The snowy owl is both a specialized and generalist hunter. Its breeding efforts and entirely global population are closely tied to the availability of tundra-dwelling lemmings but in the non-breeding season and occasionally during breeding the snowy owl can adapt to almost any available prey, most often other small mammals and northerly water birds (as well as, opportunistically, carrion). Snowy owls typically nest on a small rise on the ground of the tundra. The snowy owl lays a very large clutch of eggs, often from about 5 to 11, with the laying and hatching of eggs considerably staggered. Despite the short Arctic summer, the development of the young takes a relatively long time and independence is sought in autumn.
The snowy owl is a nomadic bird, rarely breeding at the same locations or with the same mates and often not breeding at all if prey is unavailable. A largely migatory bird, snowy owls often wandering almost anywhere close to the Arctic sometimes unpredictably irrupting to the south in large numbers. Given the difficulty of surveying such an unpredictable bird, there was little in depth knowledge historically about the snowy owl's status. However, recent data suggests the species is declining precipitously. Whereas the global population was once estimate at over 200,000 individuals, recent data suggests that there are probably fewer than 100,000 individuals globally and that the number of successful breeding pairs is 28,000 or even considerably less. While the causes are not well-understood, numerous, complex environment factors often correlated with global warming are probably at the forefront of the fragility of the snowy owl's existence.
-
5:45
RealReaper
1 day agoThe Gay Black Doctor Who The Devils Chord Sucks
6303 -
34:35
Chrissy Clark
1 day ago $0.07 earnedCan Conservatives Believe In Climate Change?
67611 -
53:28
Censored TV
1 day agoS5E93 - YOUR INSULTS ARE COMPLIMENTS (FREE PART)
2.48K7 -
8:35
America Uncovered
9 hours agoYou Won’t Believe Who’s Defending Donald Trump Now…
1.54K3 -
32:24
Praxis Homesteading and Survival Skills
1 day agoThe Most Valuable Post SHTF Barter Item
912 -
1:04:07
Trumpet Daily
1 day ago $1.81 earnedHot Take for the Regime: Michael Cohen Has No Credibility - Trumpet Daily | May 17, 2024
3.63K8 -
57:09
CutJibNewsletter
18 hours agoYou've Got a Fiend - Cut Jib Newsletter Speaks!
40 -
LIVE
Kaloopy - The Eye Candy Channel
4 hours agoKaloopy - Eye Candy - Episode 1
332 watching -
3:09:47
Turtleboy Daily News
10 hours agoEp663 - Karen Read Trial: Matt and Jen McCabe, Colin Albert Testimony
37.4K38 -
4:47:16
SonnyFaz
5 hours agoSonny Debates OF Chug Jug Girl LVL 97
32.1K30