Quick answer
The snowy owl is a large white owl of the Arctic tundra, with adult males appearing almost pure white and females marked with dark barring. Unlike most owls, it hunts during the long daylight of the Arctic summer and feeds heavily on lemmings. Snowy owls are powerful, far-ranging birds that can live around 10 years in the wild.
Key takeaway
The snowy owl is a large white owl of the Arctic tundra, with adult males appearing almost pure white and females marked with dark barring. Unlike most owls, it hunts during the long daylight of the Arctic summer and feeds heavily on lemmings. Snowy owls are powerful, far-ranging birds that can live around 10 years in the wild.
Overview
The snowy owl is a large white owl of the Arctic tundra, with adult males appearing almost pure white and females marked with dark barring. Unlike most owls, it hunts during the long daylight of the Arctic summer and feeds heavily on lemmings. Snowy owls are powerful, far-ranging birds that can live around 10 years in the wild.
Biology
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is classified as Bird with conservation status Vulnerable. Typical weight about 2 kg; lifespan around About 10 years in the wild.
Ecology
Diet: Carnivore (mainly lemmings). Habitat: Arctic tundra and open fields. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures.
People and this species
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild individuals are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Further reading
See the full Snowy Owl profile for FAQs, taxonomy, and related guides on this site.
Behavior and hunting
Snowy owls are unusual among owls in hunting by day, an adaptation to the round-the-clock daylight of the Arctic summer. They hunt from low perches or while flying low over open ground, using sharp eyesight and acute hearing to locate prey. Their thick plumage, including feathered feet, insulates them against extreme cold.
Diet and feeding
Lemmings are the snowy owl's main prey, and a single owl can eat several each day, with breeding adults catching far more to feed their chicks. When lemmings are scarce, they also take other rodents, birds, and even fish. Their breeding success rises and falls with the boom-and-bust cycles of lemming populations.
Habitat and range
Snowy owls breed on the open Arctic tundra across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. In winter they move south, sometimes appearing in fields, marshes, and shorelines well below their breeding range in events known as irruptions. They prefer wide, treeless landscapes that resemble their tundra home.
Conservation
The snowy owl is listed as Vulnerable, with global numbers lower and more variable than once thought. Climate change is altering the Arctic and disrupting the lemming cycles the owls depend on, while collisions and other hazards affect wintering birds. Long-term monitoring is helping clarify population trends.
Research notes
Figures for snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter snowy owls in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Vulnerable) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
Snowy Owl: Key Facts & Natural History?
The snowy owl is a large white owl of the Arctic tundra, with adult males appearing almost pure white and females marked with dark barring. Unlike most owls, it hunts during the long daylight of the Arctic summer and feeds heavily on lemmings. Snowy owls are powerful, far-ranging birds that can live around 10 years in the wild.
What is the scientific name of the snowy owl?
Bubo scandiacus
What do snowy owls eat?
Carnivore (mainly lemmings)
Where do snowy owls live?
Arctic tundra and open fields
Are snowy owls endangered?
Listed here as Vulnerable. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.