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Physical Characteristics: Although Hedwig's character is female, she is portrayed by male owls in the film because males' plumage is usually pure white. Females tend to have dark bars crossing their wings and chests. Snowy owls are the heaviest owls in North America, and they are larger and sleeker than other owls, growing up to 23 inches tall with a wing span of up to 52 inches. Their eyes are a striking amber color, and their heads look smooth and rounded, with no visible ear tufts. The legs and feet of snowy owls are covered with small feathers to keep them warm in freezing temperatures.
Habitat and Range: Snowy owls live in cold tundras and grasslands in the Northern United States, Europe, Asia, and throughout Canada. Their white coats provide them with camouflage in snowy conditions. They have been seen as far south as Texas and Louisiana when their food supply runs low in their normal habitats. In the winter, they retreat from their northernmost habitats. Many migrate to the Great Plains of Canada in November and leave in March.
Diet: Unlike most other owls, which are largely nocturnal, snowy owls hunt during the day. Because they live in arctic climates, they have adapted to hunt during 24-hour periods of daylight. They feed primarily on lemmings, but may also eat other small mammals including snowshoe hares, mice and voles. They're agile enough in flight to catch birds like ducks, geese and ptarmigan in midair.
Life cycle: Snowy owls can live up to 9 years in the wild and 35 years in captivity. Breeding can begin in late March or April. In May, females lay a clutch of 5 to 14 eggs every other day. The size of the clutch depends on the food available at the time. The female incubates the eggs for 32-34 days while the male hunts and provides food for her. Young leave the nest after 2 to 4 weeks, and they can fly well by 7 weeks of age.
Threats: Few natural predators affect snowy owl populations. Jaegers (gulls) and arctic foxes sometimes carry away eggs or chicks, but the main cause of snowy owl mortality is human activity, including loss of habitat and collisions with vehicles or manmade barriers like fences.
Sources: David Allen Sibley, The Sibley Guide to Birds, Knopf, New York, 2000; Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Third Edition, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC; NatureServe Explorer; Owl Pages
Nature picture credits: Photo © Gunther Matschke (Snowy owl)
