Snowy owl

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Snowy Owl is 53-65 cm long with a 125-150 cm wingspan. Both sexes are white with dark bars and spots, although these dark markings are more pronounce in females and younger indivuduals. Old males may be pure white. It has feathered feet and its large sharp talons and dull black bill are almost buried in its fluffy white feathers. Females are larger and heavier than males.
Their breeding territory directly corresponds with the distribution of small rodents (especially lemming).

Did you know?
that the eyes of owls do not move in their sockets? To look to the side or to follow a moving object, the bird must turn its head.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	STRIGIFORMES
Family	STRIGIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Bubo scandiaca
Name (English)	Snowy owl
Name (French)	Chouette harfang
Name (German)	Schneeeule
Name (Spanish)	Buho nival
Local names	Finnish: Tunturipöllö Norwegian: Snøugle Swedish: Fjälluggla
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Boréal

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Snowy Owls breed on the arctic tundra of both Eurasia and North America. In winter it usually migrates south to warmer places.
Habitat	In general the Snowy Owl inhabits areas of low sparse vegetation: arctic tundra, open grasslands, prairies, marshes, open fields, and shorelines
Wild population	It has a large global population estimated to be 290,000 individuals. Global population trends have not been quantified, but populations appear to be stable. (IUCN)
Zoo population	This species is often keep in zoos and breeds with success in captivity.

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Owls travel best in completely dark boxes. Boxes should be slightly longer than the head to tail length of the bird intended to travel, and wide and high enough for the bird to be able to stand or lie down in comfort without banging its shoulders or head. A well made wooden box with no perches is required, with carpet or some other non slip surface fixed on the floor and a padded ceiling, with air-holes on either side. The easiest type of door to use is an upward sliding door at one end. The door can then be slid up a small amount; the bird visualised before being grasped by the legs, carefully, through the small opening before sliding the door fully open for removal. A handle fixed to the top of the box makes carrying easier.

For air transport, Container Note 20 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Boréal

Why do zoos keep this animal

The reason for keeping snowy owls in zoos is primarily educational as they are the only owl species adapted to arctic conditions. Snowy owls can also be associated with polar foxes for multispecies exhibits displaying the tundra, but ideally part of the exhibit should not be accessible to the foxes.

How this animal should be kept

Pinioning or wing clipping is unacceptable for any of the owl species, which use flight as their main method of locomotion, so aviaries with enclosed tops are needed to prevent birds escaping. An aviary of at least 10 m² surface and a height of at least 3 m is required for a pair of snowy owls. The size should be increase by 5 m² for each additional adult. To ensure the birds have a feeling of security, at least one side (and better still two sides) of the aviary should be of a solid material. This also allows for keepers to approach for husbandry purposes without being seen by the birds. For the other sides, welded mesh appears to be the most suitable material, with a mesh area of 50mm x 50mm, but also nylon netting may be used. Chicken wire is an unsuitable material.

A public safety barrier should be built 1 m away from the enclosure fence to discourage visitors from putting fingers or foreign objects though wire mesh fronts.

Provision of enough high, horizontal or vertical, perches for each bird is essential; owls generally feel more secure on higher perches, especially above ‘people height’. Perches should be positioned so as to make maximum use of aviary space and encourage the birds to exercise. Several areas providing shelter should be provided.

Owls should be fed once a day. The diet consists of freshly killed or freshly (but completely!) thawed rodents, quails and one day old chicks. The owls should have access to clean water for drinking at all times.