Snowy owl group Snowy owl group 11

Snowy Owl Snowy Owl SizeSizeIn winter they are camouflaged in the snow. In winter they are camouflaged in the snow.

The female is darker than the male, their white feathers have The female is darker than the male, their white feathers have brown marks. brown marks. Adult males are almost pure white in colour. Adult males are almost pure white in colour.

LengthLength 53-65 cm53-65 cm 21-26 cm21-26 cm

WingspanWingspan 140-170 cm140-170 cm 60-66 cm60-66 cm

WeightWeight 1300 g – 2900 1300 g – 2900 gramsgrams

40-100 ounces40-100 ounces

Snowy Owl Snowy Owl FaceFace They have They have

nostrils to nostrils to breathebreathe

The eye color is The eye color is yellowyellow

The owl’s eyes The owl’s eyes are large, they are large, they can see well in can see well in the dark and see the dark and see small prey.small prey.

Snowy Owl Snowy Owl EarsEars Large eyes are surrounded by disks of Large eyes are surrounded by disks of

stiff feathers. This reflects sound stiff feathers. This reflects sound waves to their ear openings. waves to their ear openings.

Their excellent hearing allows them Their excellent hearing allows them to hear prey in the dark. to hear prey in the dark.

Their ears are from the top of the skull Their ears are from the top of the skull to the top eyes. Even though you can’t to the top eyes. Even though you can’t see any ears on the owl’s head it does see any ears on the owl’s head it does have them. have them.

The ears are small and one is higher The ears are small and one is higher than the other. This helps them hear than the other. This helps them hear better when a mouse steps on a twig. better when a mouse steps on a twig.

Yes they have ear tuffs but they are Yes they have ear tuffs but they are smaller, barely noticeable.smaller, barely noticeable.

Snowy Owl HuntingSnowy Owl Hunting

--The Mother stays at the nest and the father hunts for The Mother stays at the nest and the father hunts for food. food.

- They hunt at dusk and dawn but the snowy owl will They hunt at dusk and dawn but the snowy owl will

sometimes hunt in the day light.sometimes hunt in the day light.

-They use a wait style when hunting-They use a wait style when hunting

-Snowy owls mostly eat at night after they hunt.-Snowy owls mostly eat at night after they hunt.

-Their talons help the owl to keep a strong grip on the -Their talons help the owl to keep a strong grip on the squirming prey.squirming prey.

What do Snowy Owl’s What do Snowy Owl’s Eat?Eat?-Snowy Owl’s do not eat their babies and mate -Snowy Owl’s do not eat their babies and mate

if their really hungryif their really hungry

-Snowy owl mostly eat fish, insects, lemmings, -Snowy owl mostly eat fish, insects, lemmings, voles, rabbits, waterfowl, birds, and Ground voles, rabbits, waterfowl, birds, and Ground SquirrelsSquirrels

-They usually eat about 1600 lemming in a -They usually eat about 1600 lemming in a year.year.

How do they eat?How do they eat?

-It has strong stomach juices which -It has strong stomach juices which dissolves the edible parts of food.dissolves the edible parts of food.

The undigested parts (fur, claws, The undigested parts (fur, claws, beaks, bones, etc) are formed beaks, bones, etc) are formed into a pellet.into a pellet.

PelletsPellets

-About 8 hours after eating they will -About 8 hours after eating they will cough up a dry pellet.cough up a dry pellet.

-Inside a pellet are bones, teeth, and fur.-Inside a pellet are bones, teeth, and fur.

Where Snowy Owls LiveWhere Snowy Owls LiveNorthern Canada, northern Northern Canada, northern

USA . It depends on the USA . It depends on the lemming population. Move to lemming population. Move to

the arctic during breeding the arctic during breeding season in February. Aortic season in February. Aortic tundra or open grass lands tundra or open grass lands and fields. Owls live all over and fields. Owls live all over

the world in the tundra, the world in the tundra, forests, grass lands and forests, grass lands and

deserts. From tree line to deserts. From tree line to northern limited of Canada northern limited of Canada prefer high rolling tundra prefer high rolling tundra with tall points of land..with tall points of land..

Snowy Owls NestSnowy Owls Nest

They nest on the ground , in an area They nest on the ground , in an area with good visibility and close to with good visibility and close to

hunting areas . They may use an hunting areas . They may use an abandoned eagle’s nestabandoned eagle’s nest

Snowy owls eggsSnowy owls eggsBaby snowy owls cant lay eggs. The female snowy Baby snowy owls cant lay eggs. The female snowy owl can lay up to10 eggs in a year but sometimes owl can lay up to10 eggs in a year but sometimes if they are not enough lemmings the snowy owl will if they are not enough lemmings the snowy owl will not breed at all. Snowy owls lay pure white eggs in not breed at all. Snowy owls lay pure white eggs in spring time. The eggs hatch one by one over the spring time. The eggs hatch one by one over the

time of a month. The egg tooth falls off shortly after time of a month. The egg tooth falls off shortly after the baby getsthe baby gets

out of the egg.out of the egg.

Snowy owl foodSnowy owl food

The mom and dad brings there first meal The mom and dad brings there first meal to the baby owl. The baby snowy owl eats to the baby owl. The baby snowy owl eats the food that their parents bring them.the food that their parents bring them.

Snowy owls parentsSnowy owls parents In eight weeks the baby owl are ready to In eight weeks the baby owl are ready to

fly off and search for food on their own. fly off and search for food on their own. Snowy owl parents are very protective of Snowy owl parents are very protective of their young baby owls. Both parents their young baby owls. Both parents teach the young baby owls to hunt. The teach the young baby owls to hunt. The male hunts for the female. The mom rips male hunts for the female. The mom rips up the prey to feed to the young.up the prey to feed to the young.

Snowy owls babiesSnowy owls babies They have fluffy white down feathers. They quickly They have fluffy white down feathers. They quickly

grow a dark gray coat of down. When they are 10 grow a dark gray coat of down. When they are 10 days old they are almost black. Snowy owl young days old they are almost black. Snowy owl young are covered with fluffy white down the look like a are covered with fluffy white down the look like a cuddly panda. The young are not asleep when they cuddly panda. The young are not asleep when they are born. They aren't asleep but their eyes are shut. are born. They aren't asleep but their eyes are shut. They can fly in eight weeks.They can fly in eight weeks.

Group membersGroup members

Faith:DietFaith:Diet Kassandra:DietKassandra:Diet Jada:HabitatJada:Habitat Mercedes:ApperanceMercedes:Apperance Jessica:YoungJessica:Young

Sources of InformationSources of InformationOwls Author Adrienne MasonOwls Author Adrienne Masonwww.hww.ca/hwww2asp?id=76 www.hww.ca/hwww2asp?id=76

http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/snp/Animals/snowy_owl.htmhttp://www.env.gov.nl.ca/snp/Animals/snowy_owl.htm

http://www.tundraanimals.net/tundraanimals/snowyowl.htmlhttp://www.tundraanimals.net/tundraanimals/snowyowl.html

http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/owls/snowyowl.htmlhttp://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/owls/snowyowl.html

http://www.conservationcentre.org/scase1.htmlhttp://www.conservationcentre.org/scase1.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Snowyowlprintout.shtmlSnowyowlprintout.shtml