Snowy Owl: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Owl Week · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. Most owls hunt at night and rest by day, but snowy owls are often out in daylight, above all in summer.
2. Snowy owls have white, thickly feathered toes. Their toe feathers, about 33 mm long, are the longest known of any owl.
3. Males are usually a purer white. Females have more dark brown flecks across their feathers.
4. Snowy owl numbers and breeding are closely tied to how many tundra lemmings there are.
5. A snowy owl lays five to eleven eggs, and they hatch at different times.

The quiz

1. When is the snowy owl often active?

• Only at night
• During the day (correct)
• Only at dawn
• Only in winter

Unlike most owls, it is often active by day.

2. What is special about the snowy owl's toe feathers?

• They are bright red
• They are the longest known of any owl (correct)
• They fall out every night
• They are the shortest of any owl

At about 33 mm, they are the longest toe feathers known in any owl.

3. Which sex has more dark brown flecks?

• Males
• Females (correct)
• Both equally
• Neither

Females show more dark brown flecks.

4. Which tundra animal is the snowy owl's population tied to?

• Hares
• Lemmings (correct)
• Voles
• Ptarmigans

Breeding and numbers follow the availability of lemmings.

5. How many eggs does a snowy owl usually lay?

• One or two
• Five to eleven (correct)
• Twelve to fifteen
• Twenty

A clutch is usually between five and eleven eggs.

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