The Snowy Owl is a large owl, untufted, and is mostly white. The length of this owl is 20-27 inches, the spread of the wings 54-66 inches. Some Snowy Owls are almost totally white, but most have brown barring. Females generally have more barring than males; older owls have less barring than younger ones. Immatures are totally dark brown.
Nests are built on mounds on the ground. The female scrapes a small depression into the mound and in it are laid 4-10 white eggs. They are incubated for 32-33 days by the female, while the male hunts for food. The nestlings are born blind and remain so for 4-5 days. In 56-60 days the nestlings will fly.
The Snowy Owl is comfortable in the tundra during breeding season, and lives in praries, wetlands and beaches in non-breeding season. It is found in the Arctic, but prefers tundra that is not always covered with ice and snow. In the winter it may move south, but there is no regular migration. It may "migrate" south as far as the central United States, but prefers the colder regions of Canada.
The food of preference of the Snowy Owl varies; usually rodents such as lemmings or mice, other small to large rodents, small birds and even fish. It is active during all times of day, and prefers perch hunting. When flying prey is spotted, it will chase it down with the powerful, speedy flight which is common among the Gyrfalcon.