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Snowy Owl

Status Rare to uncommon winter visitor, very rare in summer. Nova Scotia appears to be on the fringe of its periodic southward excursions. During its stays in Nova Scotia, the Snowy Owl is generally found in coastal barrens and meadows, rarely far inland. Recent noteworthy numbers have appeared during the winters of 1934-35, 1937-38, 1941-42,1945-46,1960-61,1964-65 and 1981-82. During other winters since 1960-61, only 1 to 10 birds have been reported. Birds do not generally first appear until mid-November (average 28 November, earliest 16 October). There are fewer records for mid-winter; and birds in spring often appear to be on their way north. The latest was near Glace Bay on 26 May 1975. However, occasional birds linger in summer. Nineteenth-century reports from Sable Island, along with one on 5-6 August 1964, are mentioned by McLaren (1981a). Other individuals occurred on Ciboux Island on 26 August 1962 (H.F. Kuch et al.), the Cabot Trail on 1 August 1964 (S. MacLean) and Seal Island between 22 and 28 July 1973 (B.K. Doane). Erskine (1968) documents other summer reports from the Maritimes.

Description Length: 58-69 cm. Adult male: White, more or less marked and barred with black; legs and feet feathered to ends of toes; eyes yellow; no ear tufts. Adult female: Larger than male and plumage more heavily barred. Immatures: Even more heavily barred than females.

Range Circumpolar. In North America breeds across the Arctic and winters from the arctic coast south, sporadically well into the United States.

Remarks Unlike some owls, these large white birds are day hunters, well able to see in broad daylight. The belief is general that the presence of Snowy Owls here in winter denotes a shortage of its food supply in the northland, and that the volume of the flight of these south-bound owls as winter comes to the Arctic is in direct ratio to the extent of the food shortage there.

It lays 3 to 10 eggs to a clutch. The difference in the size of sets is striking but the explanation is simple: when food is in normal supply the fertility of the female increases and more eggs are laid, but during lean years, egg production decreases in direct ratio to the availability of food for offspring.