The Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl is often unobserved in most of the Midwest. Its typical migratory range rarely extends beyond Canada’s southern border, save for the northern New England states. However, in years of shortened food supplies, Snowy Owls may exhibit irregular travel patterns, and spend their winter in lower portions of the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest. Whereas most owls are nocturnal, a unique characteristic that defines the Snowy Owl is their role as a diurnal hunter, which means that they are active hunters during the daytime and nighttime.

They possess this attribute by necessity, as their summer territory is in the arctic circle, where there is continuous daylight during the summer months. With their vast wingspan (up to 5 feet) it should be no surprise that they hunt from the sky. From this vantage point it is much easier for these owls to catch their prey, which consists of small mammals, fish, and other birds. Therefore, keep your eyes open for the remainder of the winter to see if you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of these elusive birds.