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Snowy Owl. Classification . Scientific Name: Bubo Scandiacus Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Nyctae Species: Scandiaca. Barn Owl and Short Eared O wl. Physical Characteristics .
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Classification Scientific Name: Bubo Scandiacus Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Nyctae Species: Scandiaca • Barn Owl and Short Eared Owl
Physical Characteristics Size: Length 20-27 in., wingspan 41/4- 51/4 ft., weight 31/2- 61/2 lb. Appearance:Almost all white with bars of black and brown, and yellow catlike eyes Differences: Males are almost all white, but females have more brown spots and bars, also they are bigger then males
Distribution The Tundra (northern Alaska and Canada) Travels to southern Canada and northern United States in Winter
Habitat Lives mainly in open areas Mountains Meadows Fields
Conservation Status International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Least Concerned Population is decreasing however When lemming supply is low, so is the number of owls Human development threaten eco system
Reproductive Characteristics Breed in Alaska and northernmost part of Canada between May and September At 2-3 years old the mature bird becomes able to reproduce Lays 7-8 eggs, depending on food supply Hatch after 32 to 34 days Born 2-3 inches with dark feathers 25-26 days until they can leave the nest, the parents help feed for 5 to 7 weeks They cannot fly well until 50 days of age
Parental Care If hunting grounds are good, the parent owls may nest in the same spot for several years Nest directly on the ground The female incubates the eggs while the male will gather food and protect the nest
Longevity and Mortality Longevity is up to 10 years If in captivity they can live up to 35 years
Seasonal Patterns Nocturnal and Diurnal The snowy owl hunts all winter Mink, weasels, fox, and hawks also hunt all winter
Diet 3-5 lemming per day(1600 per year) Also eat rodents, large hares, insects, fish, small songbirds, and geese Have very strong stomach acid, so they eat the prey whole
Predator Relationships Humans, wolves, artic foxes, jaegers, wild dogs, and other avian predators
Human Relationships Snowy owls has played a major role in many children books, mythology art, and movies They are very territorial Won’t kill you but can extremely injure you They have very sharp talons that can cut your scalp or even blind you Not a lot of humans live in the Artic so we are not very affected by them
Fun Facts No pigment in their feathers The lack of pigment in their feathers allows more space for air that helps the Snowy Owl to keep the bird warmer because air is an insulation against cold weather. Feathers with fringes that help muffle sound when they fly Eyes Binocular vision just like humans Bony eye sockets 3 eyelids—one for blinking, one for sleeping, and one for keeping the eye clean Ears In different directions on their head The sound of predators reaches their ears at different times, so they can tell the distance of the animal
Works Cited 1. Allaboutbirds.org. Annual Report, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. <http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/id>. 2. American Museum of Natural History. Birds of North America. London: Dorling `Kindersley, 2009. Print. 3. Aniamls.About.com. about.com, 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. <http://animals.about.com/od/zoologyglossary/g/binocularvision.htm>. 4. Animal Diversity Web ADW. Regents of the U of Michigan, 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nyctea_scandiaca/>. 5. Basic Facts about Snowy Owl. Defenders of Wildlife, 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.defenders.org/snowy-owl/basic-facts>. 6. Baughman, Mel, ed. Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2003. Print. 7. Couzens, Dominic. Extreme Birds. New York: Dominic Couzens Photographs, 2008. Print. 8. Hall, Derek, ed. Encyclopedia of North American Birds. San Diego: Thunder Bay, 2004. Print. 9. The Internet Bird Collection IBC. N.p., 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. <http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/typical-owls-strigidae>. 10. National Audubon Society. Field Guide to North American Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994. Print. 11. National Geographic.com. National Geographic Society, 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0212/feature6/index.html>. 12. The Owl Pages. N.p., 2012. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. <shttp://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=scandiacus>. 13. The Owls of Harry Potter. Laura Erickson, 2007. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.lauraerickson.com/bird/Species/Owls/HarryPotter/HarryPotter.html>. 14. Snowy Owl. N.p., 2008. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://a-z-animals.com/animals/snowy-owl/>.