The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to Arctic regions in North America and the Palearctic. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of black plumage. Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl, and opportunistically eats carrion. Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is active during the day, especially in the summertime. It is the heaviest species of owl in all of North America. On rare occasions, often due to the scarcity of lemmings and other small rodents, snowy owls will journey as far south as Florida in an attempt to find food. Predators like arctic foxes, wolves, ermines, golden eagles, and ravens will sometimes prey on these owls and their chicks.
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