Snowy Owl
When you see a snowy owl, it's clear how the bird probably got its name: they're snow-white. Males are generally whiter than females. As males grow older, they get whiter. The females never become completely white—remaining brownish with darker markings. These large owls mainly live in the Arctic in open, treeless areas called tundra. Snowy owls perch on the ground or on short posts. From there they patiently watch for prey. Their favorite target is lemmings—small mouselike rodents—but they also hunt for other small rodents, rabbits, birds, and fish.
The snowy owl, whose native habitat is the northern circumpolar region, has a special connection with the north as the cardinal point and is a critical link in the food chain in the tundra ecosystem. In the Celtic tradition, the north is a place of hardening, testing, testing, improvement and discipline. It is a place of battle where we shed fears, face addictions, and move from emotional and psychological bondage to personal strength. The snowy owl conveys messages from the sages and elders, and people whose totem is this bird can in one way or another contact this wisdom that benefits the world, usually in the form of a written word. peregrinefund
It's that time of year again, when birders and wildlife enthusiasts hope to catch a magical glimpse of a snowy owl. Historically the birds travel southward (well outside their normal range) every four years or so. This is called an irruption. But, for many reasons, not all understood, snowies have been "irrupting" more often, and some predict another banner year for Southern sightings. We figured people might start talking about snowies as sightings increase, and wanted to equip you with some interesting facts to share.
Bristles on their beaks help them sense nearby objects. The beak (nearly covered by facial feathers) is hooked and used for gripping prey and tearing flesh.
fws.gov
Morrison
Wikipedia
nationalgeographic
