Snowy owl

Snowy owl

We are delighted that our President Helmut Stahl has become the sponsor of the snowy owl.

With a total body length of up to 70 cm, the snowy owl(Bubo scandiaca) is a very large species from the family of true owls (Strigidae). It is found in the far north of America and Eurasia, along the Arctic Circle.

A clear sexual dimorphism is recognisable in the snowy owl. The plumage of the male is almost completely white in colour. The female's plumage, on the other hand, is patterned with black spots and stripes. It is also usually larger than the male.

The snowy owl mainly inhabits open tundra areas north of the tree line. In the south of its range, it can also be found along the coasts and on marshes or heathland. Small mammals and birds, such as lemmings, hares, mice, ducks and grouse, are the snowy owl's favourite food. However, if these are not sufficiently available, fish, amphibians, crabs and beetles also fall within its range of prey. Unlike many other owl species, the snowy owl hunts not only at night and dusk, but also in the middle of the day. It can also stalk its prey on foot by spreading its toes and using its feet like snowshoes.

The snowy owl's breeding season is between May and September. The nest is a simple hollow on a raised spot on the ground. The clutch usually consists of 3 to 11 eggs, depending on how much food is available. These are incubated by the female for about a month, while the male takes care of the food acquisition. The newly hatched young then take around 50 days to fledge.

Due to its extremely large distribution area, the population of the snowy owl is currently not endangered. Nevertheless, the population has been steadily declining in recent years. The reasons for this include climate change, hunting of the animals and collisions with vehicles and aeroplanes.