White owl - description, habitat, interesting facts

All owls deserve attention, today we will consider a very beautiful and interesting feathered representative of the family with white plumage. These birds prefer life in a snowy area, because they adapt perfectly to weather conditions and mask in the midst of piled snow. Otherwise, birds are called polar owls, since it is in such climatic regions that they are common. These individuals are rightfully considered the largest representatives of birds among similar birds living in the tundra.

View Features

1. The main characteristic is that birds can live without food for a long period of time. And when the need for hunting comes, the owls go to get food at any time of the day, whether it be day or night. Individuals are perfectly oriented in the light or twilight. In all cases, they will be able to notice the danger in time and disguise themselves. Owls are also considered predators.
2. They have a very warm plumage that allows birds to live in cold climatic regions and stay awake at night. The positive features of the apparel include the fact that the bird, due to such plumage, spends less energy reserves. Therefore, there is no need to eat more to replenish strength. Partly because of this, owls do not eat much, they can be without a meal for a long time.
3. Thanks to their plumage, birds can fly to the field without fear of being eaten by dangerous Arctic predators. Owls are perfectly camouflaged, so predators, if they see them, cannot track them for a short time.

Habitat and Description

1. These individuals from the entire represented family are considered the largest. They are beautiful, live in the tundra and other similar places. As a rule, females are larger than males. The first in the case reach 70 cm. With a body weight of about 3 kg. and wingspan within 165 cm.
2. Representatives of male gender are slightly less. They weigh about 2.5 kg., The wingspan varies within 65 cm, and on the body of the bird grow up to 64 cm. Adult birds are white in color, they have a small amount of black blotches. Since these inhabitants live in snowy places, then for them this coloring is the most suitable.
3. Thanks to this feature, the owl is always invisible. Her legs have a thick plumage, which allows you to move around in the snow and sit on branches motionless for a long time. The heads of individuals are round.
4. The eyes are large and rounded. The irises are yellowish brownish. There are many eyelashes, so the bird’s look is very expressive. The eyes are set straight, like the whole owl family. Birds always squint, looking like they are aiming.
5. As befits this species, birds are famous for their small ears. They are slightly visible on a large and round head. The same can be said about the beak, it is almost invisible. Black, hidden in thick plumage. Paws are strong, with sharp claws, which the bird grabs and carries prey. Sometimes in hunting, owls use their mouth.
6. If we talk about differences in gender, the females are slightly different from males. Female representatives of the family are endowed with a large number of black spots.
7. Young animals immediately after birth are covered with white plumage. Over time, it becomes brownish, and then again whitish with dark spots. Young birds are more colorful.
8. In owls living in snowy regions, molting begins in mid-summer. Then it ends, and the next time the plumage is replaced in late autumn.When the change of plumage ends in November, the bird is covered with a thick fur coat that keeps warm in winter.

Lifestyle

1. These birds are common in the tundra, the entire population is concentrated in this area. In winter, owls can move to the steppes or forest areas for food. Individuals remain in open areas to have a better view. They can fly to the southern regions to change their habitat to where there is no ice.
2. When an owl starts hunting for prey, it tries to drive it. If the prey is small, then the bird immediately grabs it and swallows it whole. As for large-scale mining, things are completely different here. The individual in question simply drags the victim to his home and begins to tear to shreds. After that, the bird eats.
3. It is worth noting that polar owls make unusual intermittent sounds. They resemble croaking and barking. During the mating season, birds are excited and emit beautiful squealing trills. As soon as the breeding season ends, owls become silent.
4. Often, the considered individuals prefer nesting sites on the tops of frozen mounds. It is in such a terrain that the tundra inhabitant can fully view his own territory. At the same time, the female watches the male’s hunt.
5. An interesting fact remains that the ardent opponent of owls is the Arctic fox. It is worth noting that in open battle, birds almost always win. The problem is that young animals and eggs often suffer from such a beast. During the mating season, owls lay in nests, the bottom of which is lined with moss and grass.

Interesting Facts

1. In the wild, the tundra inhabitants in question live up to 10 years without any problems. If such an owl is kept in captivity, then it may well live up to 30 years. It is also not at all clear whether these individuals are listed in the Red Book.
2. The bottom line is that there are quite a few individuals represented. But according to experts, it is the population of polar owls that is significantly reduced. Therefore, there really are few such birds left. Soon the inhabitants of the tundra under consideration will be included under protection.

The considered individuals are unique and very interesting. It is worth noting that their courtship period is very difficult. In addition, such birds are monogamous. Interestingly, the mother immediately begins to hatch eggs. Therefore, young growth begins to be born in turn. In the nests you can see chicks of different sizes.

Video: Arctic owl in the masonry