Why is the snowy owl active during the day, unlike most owls?

It breeds in the Arctic, where summer days have continuous daylight, so it has adapted to hunt during the day as well as at night.

What does the snowy owl eat?

It feeds mainly on lemmings and other small rodents, occasionally taking ducks, small birds, or reptiles when available.

Is the snowy owl the owl from Harry Potter?

Yes, the snowy owl was the model for Hedwig, Harry Potter's pet owl in the book and film series.

Snowy Owlシロフクロウ

Bubo scandiacusVU— Vulnerable

The snowy owl is a large, mostly white owl of the Arctic tundra, breeding across the northernmost regions of North America, Scandinavia, and Russia. Unlike most owls, it is active during daylight hours—a trait suited to the round-the-clock daylight of the Arctic summer—and hunts mainly lemmings and other small rodents. Periodic "irruptions" bring large numbers south into temperate regions in years when prey is scarce, and the species is famous as the inspiration for Hedwig in the Harry Potter series.

Snowy Owl (reference photo) — Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Strigiformes / Strigidae Source
Size: Total length 50–60 cm, wingspan 140–165 cm
Weight: Males average about 1.5–1.8 kg / females about 1.7–2.4 kg
Lifespan: Wild: estimated 10–15 years (banding studies have recorded birds living over 16 years)
Diet: Carnivore Preys mainly on small rodents such as lemmings and voles, and occasionally on ducks, small birds, and reptiles
Distribution: Breeds north of 60°N latitude across Arctic regions of North America, Scandinavia, and Russia, periodically irrupting far south in winters when prey is scarce. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Unusually for an owl, it is active during the day, a trait attributed to the midnight sun of the Arctic summer. Source
It rarely perches in trees, spending much of its time on the ground or on rocks. Source
It was the model for Hedwig, the owl in the Harry Potter series. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 14

Snowy Owlシロフクロウ

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Ishikawa DoubutsuenIshikawaAbout 60 minutes from the Kanazawa-Morimoto Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, about 40 minutes from the Kanazawa-Nishi Interchange, and about 20 minutes from the Komatsu Interchange.

Utsunomiya DoubutsuenTochigiAbout 5 minutes from the Utsunomiya IC on the Tohoku Expressway; free parking for 1,000 cars.

Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama DoubutsuenKanagawaOpened in 1999

Kyoto City ZooKyotoOpened in 1903

Kushiroshi DoubutsuenHokkaidoAbout 55 minutes from JR Kushiro Station by Akan Bus, or about 27 minutes (18 km) by car, taxi, or rental car.

Hiroshima City Asa Zoological ParkHiroshimaFrom JR Hiroshima Station, take the Sanyo Main Line or Kabe Line to Shin-Hakushima Station, transfer to the Astram Line to Kamiyasu Station, then take a bus to "Asa Dobutsu Koen" (about 45 minutes in total).

Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980

Sapporoshimaruyama DoubutsuenHokkaidoOpened in 1951

Suzaka ZooNaganoFrom the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, take Route 403, turn right at the Kotaka-machi intersection, turn left at the Kami-Hatcho intersection, cross Garyu Bridge, and turn left for the south entrance.

Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

Latest news

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Sources

Support Conservation

FAQ

Books & gear