Snowy Owl Handpuppet 25cm

Physical Characteristics
This yellow-eyed, black billed, snowy white bird is easily recognizable. The Snowy Owl is 53-65 cm long with a 125-150 cm wingspan. The adult male is virtually pure white, but females and young birds have some dark scalloping; the young are heavily barred, and dark spotting may even be predominate. The Snowy Owl's thick plumage, heavily-feathered feet, and coloration are prefectly adapated for life north of the Arctic Circle.

Habitat
The Snowy Owl is typically found in the northern circumpolar region, where it makes its summer home north of latitude 60 degrees north. Snowy Owls winter south through Canada and northernmost Eurasia.

Behaviour
Snowy Owl calls are varied, but the alarm call is a barking, almost quacking 'krek-krek' the female also has a softer mewling 'pyee-pyee' or 'prek-prek.' The song is a deep repeated 'gawh'. They may also clap their beak in response to threats or annoyances. While called clapping, it is believed this sound may actually be a clicking of the tongue, not the beak.

Breeding
The Snowy Owl nests on the ground, building a scrape on top of a mound or boulder. A site with good visibility, ready access to hunting areas, and a lack of snow is chosen. Gravel bars and abandoned eagle nests may also be used. Breeding occurs in May, and depending on the amount of prey available, clutch sizes range from 5 to 14 eggs, which are laid singly, approximately every other day over the course of several days. Hatching takes place approximately five weeks after laying, and the pure white young are cared for by both parents. Both the male and the female defend the nest with their young from predators. Some individuals stay on the breeding grounds while others migrate.

Diet
This powerful bird relies primarily on lemmings and other rodents: from mice to Squirrels, for food and from time to time other birds such as young ptarmigan. Snowy Owls are also known to eat fish and carrion. Most of the owls' hunting is done in the "sit and wait" style; prey may be captured on the ground, in the air or fish may be snatched off the surface of bodies of water using their sharp talons. Each bird must capture roughly 7 to 12 mice per day to meet its food requirement and can eat more than 1,600 lemmings per year.

Strange and Interesting Facts
The Snowy Owl is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl or the Great White Owl. This striking bird is also the national symbol of Quebec. Snowy Owls, like many other birds, swallow their small prey whole. Strong stomach juices digest the flesh and the indigestible bones, teeth, fur, and feathers are compacted into oval pellets that the bird regurgitates 18 to 24 hours after feeding. Regurgitation often takes place at regular perches, where dozens of pellets may be found. Biologists frequently examine these pellets to determine the quantity and types of prey the birds have eaten.