Great+Horned+Owl

=Snowy Owls= http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=deriv&q=snowy%20owlsh **Characteristics**
 * their ears are hidden under the fur and can sometimes be hidden by tufts of fur.It falls under the class of birds.The male is often whiter than the female however the female also has brown/blackish spots on it's underbelly. This bird also has very sharp talons.This bird is often nocturnal meaning it sleeps during the day and hunts at night.The average size/height is 20 to 28 inches and the wingspan (wingtip to wingtip) is averagely 4.2 to 4.8 feet.When a snowy owl flies, its wings make a powerful downstroke and a quick upstroke.

[[image:electricpegasus/3370708732_9c2b4d6a64_b_(1).jpg width="240" height="180" caption="Female Snowy Owl" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33590535@N06/3370708732/sizes/l/in/photostream/"]]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33590535@N06/3370708732/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Prey/Predator
their prey are moles,mice,lemmings,and other small mammals as well as other birds and fish.Since the Snowy Owl is an arial bird it has very few predators; the polar bear and the human are two of them.

Diet
the normal male eats up to 5 lemmings each day.They store body fat for when lemmings are scarce.

[[image:6112120374_aac243bc3e_b.jpg width="320" height="183" caption="lemming" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter-trimming/6112120374/sizes/l/in/photostream/"]]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter-trimming/6112120374/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Habitat
Their habitat is often snowy,treeless areas also known as tundras.They usually live in the Arctic year round, if not they will migrate to Canada,Northern America, Europe and Asia

Mating/Babies
Females usually have 3-11 eggs at one time,they usually have more eggs if food is limited.their nest is often at ground level. the mother incubates young until it is no longer needed(average time:one month) while the male feeds and keeps his mate healthy and safe.lemmings are important in the family's diet,sometimes the parents won't lay eggs until the food rate increases. the hatchlings are white for a short time and then a light brown.Young leaves nest less than a month. A pair of snowy owls defends their nest fiercely. They will even attack a wolf that gets too close. http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnny0101/3712180639/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Facts
In the wild the Snowy Owl lives 9.5 years, in captivity they can live up to 35 years.

video & audio link
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Reference List
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/snowy-owl/ snowy owls by Patrica Hunt