Male Snowy owls are almost completely white while the females tend to be more heavily barred with black spots. The Snowy owls distinctive white plumage allows them to stay well camouflaged against a snowy background while hunting and the barred plumage of the female allows for camouflage while nesting on the ground when snow is melting, in the spring.
They are solitary, when not breeding, and very territorial when breeding. They will fiercely defend their nest scrape from predators.
They are migratory birds, but their movements are difficult to predict, as they seem to migrate only when food becomes scarce.
Size: Snowy Owls are 60 to 70 cm in length with an average wingspan of 1.7meters. The females are larger weighing up to 1.7kg whereas the males can reach 1.5kg.