The Bubo Scandiacus, commonly known as the Snowy Owl is our Christmas special here at Escaping Extinction. For all of the Harry Potter fans, let’s talk about Hedwig!
These large, strong and majestic birds are noted for the gorgeous white plumage and yellow eyes. They can be found in the Tundra regions of Canada, Alaska, Europe and Russia. Their habitat, the Tundra areas have a cold and dry environment with very few trees. In that treeless environment, these birds can be spotted resting on the ground or natural perches like mounds or rocks. Unlike most other owls, Snowy owls are Diurnal which means they are active during the day. More specially they are Crepuscular, which means that they are most active during dusk and dawn. Adult males are usually white with minimal dark coloring on their wing tips, while females have a more mottled appearance which helps them camouflage. Females snowy owls are also notably larger than their male counterparts. These birds cannot move and do not have the ability to move their eyes, hence they look around through turning their heads. Their round-bodied figure allows them to maintain their body heat along with the thick plumage. Unlike most other owls which have featherless legs, Snowy Owls do have them to further insulate from the cold Tundra environment they live in.
While the Snowy Owl was listed Least Concern on the IUCN list, due to illegal hunting, collisions with vehicles and power lines have led to a severe decrease in the population. Furthermore, due to climate change the changes in snowmelt and snow cover have affected the availability and distribution of prey. Through donating to foundations such as the Owl Research Institute and the Peregrine Fund we can help research and save this magnificent species.
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The Escaping Extinction team wishes you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Write-up by Naisha Dahiya and Artworks by Aayush Goraik Rathaur and Amrit Srivastava
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