Knowra Snowy owl Snowy owl The snowy owl is a large Arctic owl with white plumage, dark markings, and a circumpolar breeding range. Its seasonal movements can carry it far south of the Arctic.
Arctic tundra : A treeless biome of cold, low-growing vegetation found across the Arctic. This is the open breeding habitat where snowy owls hunt and nest.
Sit-and-wait predation : A hunting strategy in which a predator watches from a perch before pursuing nearby prey. Snowy owls often scan open ground from a low perch before swooping on prey.
Project SNOWstorm : A research project that uses satellite tracking and field studies to investigate snowy owl movements and ecology. Its tracking data document individual routes, winter habitat use, and survival.
Climate change in the Arctic : Long-term changes in Arctic temperature, sea ice, snow, and ecosystems driven largely by human-caused warming. Changing snow and prey conditions may alter the habitats snowy owls depend on.
Great horned owl : A large, widespread North American owl with prominent feather tufts and mottled plumage. Unlike the snowy owl, it is strongly associated with wooded habitats and remains resident across much of its range.
Owl : A bird in the order Strigiformes, typically adapted for nocturnal hunting with forward-facing eyes and specialized feathers. Snowy owls share the owl body plan but are unusually adapted to open Arctic terrain.
Lemming cycle : A recurring rise and fall in lemming abundance, driven by interacting ecological pressures. Changes in lemming numbers influence owl clutch size, fledging success, and breeding decisions.
Snowy owl irruption of 2013–2014 : A major southward movement of snowy owls into parts of North America during the winter of 2013–2014. This well-observed event brought unusually large numbers of owls into southern regions.
IUCN Red List : A global system for assessing species' extinction risk and conservation status. The snowy owl's assessed status summarizes concerns about its changing population.
Short-eared owl : A widespread owl with short ear tufts that often hunts over open grassland by day or twilight. Both hunt in open country, but the short-eared owl is smaller and less specialized for Arctic life.
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