White owl - rare and beautiful predators

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White Owl - members of the family owl, which have a distinctive snow-white plumage.Perhaps inclusion of dark brown spots, which form a plurality of rows of transverse lines.The number and brightness of these marks can be seen on the age and sex of the birds: the older the individual, the less stain and thus more evenly white.

Habitat, which traditionally are white owl, presented the territory of polar and temperate zones: the tundra of North America and Eurasia.In addition, here it can be attributed to the large island located in the Arctic Ocean, such as Novaya Zemlya, Greenland, Severnaya Zemlya, Wrangel Island, and the New Siberian Islands.Meet this beautiful predator possible and on Spitsbergen, and Alaska.

White Owl - a large bird with a wingspan of up to six meters.Oddly enough, the females significantly more males in both weight and size.In addition, it can be considered a hallmark of the fact that females are more streaks on feathers.

eaglets have a brown color, which, as mentioned earlier, with age gives way to snow-white plumage.The beak of the bird all black and almost to the tip covered with small stiff feathers.Clawed legs are also covered with a layer of large feathers.In appearance it resembles wool and forms a so-called "beard".

Snowy Owls nest in the hills, with preference given to dry ground and hills.Construction could begin before the snow melt, so the choice of location is crucial.Needless nest is a hole in the ground where parents bring owl feathers, rags and vegetable skins rodents.Nevertheless, protected from predators territory have an area of ​​6 square meters.km.Traditionally, these birds follow the old nesting and change it only if they are forced to conditions of existence.

in choosing a marriage partner Snowy Owls are fickle: in some areas there are persistent couples for several years, while in other areas the owl "converge" only for one year.

average life expectancy of a bird of prey in the wild is about 9 years old.Nevertheless, under artificial content of this value can reach 30. Natural enemies polar skuas owls are considered, as well as foxes and arctic foxes, which represent a significant threat to the laid eggs, hatchlings and juveniles.

Snowy Owls hunt myshepodobnyh rodents such as lemmings and pikas, birds, small carnivores and birds.Not averse to fish and carrion.Winged predators play an important role in the development of tundra ecosystems as are regulators of rodent populations.

White Owl is found in many aspects of the culture of temperate and polar zones.For example, it is the official symbol of the Canadian province of Quebec, as well as applied to the image of the arms Kayerkan.Snowy owl listed as endangered and listed in Appendix II of the Convention CITES.Look at the photos presented: snowy owl in flight looks luxurious and majestic.