# Snowy Owl (*Bubo scandiacus*)

> The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the Arctic tundra, easily recognised by its rounded head, piercing yellow eyes, and dense feathering. It weighs around 2 kg with a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.5 m, flies powerfully at up to 80 km/h (50 mph), and hunts mainly lemmings by day as well as night. Living about 10 years in the wild, it is listed as Vulnerable.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** The Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia, wintering farther south.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/snowy-owl/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Strigiformes
- **Family:** Strigidae
- **Genus:** Bubo

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Bubo scandiacus |
| Diet | Carnivore (mainly lemmings) |
| Habitat | Arctic tundra and open fields |
| Lifespan | About 10 years in the wild |
| Wingspan | 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) |
| Top speed | Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Appearance and plumage

The snowy owl is one of the most striking of all owls, with mostly white plumage that camouflages it against Arctic snow. Males grow whiter with age and can become almost pure white, while females and young birds keep dark barring across the wings and body. Thick feathering extends right down to the toes, insulating the bird against extreme cold, and its bright yellow eyes sit in a rounded, earless-looking head. At around 2 kg with a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.5 m, it is a heavy, powerful bird.

## Hunting and diet

Snowy owls are carnivores that depend heavily on lemmings, small Arctic rodents that can make up the bulk of their diet. A single owl may eat several lemmings a day and well over a thousand in a year when the rodents are plentiful. They also take other rodents, hares, and birds, hunting from a low perch or the ground and dropping onto prey with a swift, silent strike. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts by day as well as at night, an advantage during the endless daylight of the Arctic summer.

## Habitat and range

Snowy owls breed across the open Arctic tundra of North America, Greenland, and northern Eurasia, favouring treeless ground with good vantage points. In winter many move south into open country such as fields, coastlines, marshes, and airfields, terrain that echoes their bare tundra home. The distances they travel vary from year to year, and in some winters large numbers appear far south of their usual range in movements known as irruptions. They avoid dense forest, needing open ground to hunt.

## Breeding and nesting

Snowy owls nest on the ground, with the female scraping a shallow hollow on a raised, snow-free mound or ridge. Clutch size is closely tied to food supply: in years when lemmings are abundant a female may lay a large clutch, but in lean years the owls may not breed at all. The female incubates the eggs and broods the chicks while the male hunts and delivers food. Both parents defend the nest fiercely against predators such as Arctic foxes.

## Conservation and threats

The snowy owl is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and its numbers are thought to be declining more steeply than once believed. Because breeding depends so heavily on lemming cycles, a warming Arctic that disrupts those cycles is a serious concern for the species. Other pressures include collisions with vehicles and power lines during winter movements and disturbance of tundra breeding grounds. Its dependence on the fragile Arctic makes it sensitive to climate change.

## Frequently asked questions

### What do snowy owls eat?

Snowy owls are carnivores that feed mainly on lemmings, small Arctic rodents that can make up most of their diet. They also take other rodents, hares, and birds, and a single owl may eat well over a thousand lemmings in a good year.

### How big is a snowy owl?

Snowy owls weigh around 2 kg and have a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft), making them one of the largest owls by weight. They are heavy, powerfully built birds well suited to the harsh Arctic.

### Are male and female snowy owls different?

Yes. Males are whiter and grow paler with age, sometimes becoming almost pure white, while females and young birds keep noticeable dark barring across the wings and body. This makes the sexes fairly easy to tell apart.

### Do snowy owls hunt during the day?

Yes. Unlike most owls, snowy owls hunt during the day as well as at night. This suits the Arctic summer, when the sun barely sets and there is little darkness to hunt in.

### Where do snowy owls live?

Snowy owls breed on the open Arctic tundra of North America, Greenland, and northern Eurasia. In winter many move south into open country such as fields, coastlines, and airfields, occasionally appearing far south in large numbers during irruption years.

### Are snowy owls endangered?

Snowy owls are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, meaning they face a real risk of extinction in the wild. Their strong reliance on Arctic lemming cycles makes them especially sensitive to climate change, and their numbers are believed to be falling.

## Sources

- BirdLife International (2021). Bubo scandiacus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Billerman, S. M. et al. (eds.). Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- [Animal Diversity Web — Bubo scandiacus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bubo_scandiacus/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/snowy-owl/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.