Snowy Owl (*Bubo Scandiacus*)

The snowy owl is one of the most recognizable owl species, largely due to its striking white feathers. It gained additional popularity through the *Harry Potter* film series, though few people know that "Hedwig" was actually portrayed as male. The snowy owl is likely to be the only owl species with color-based sexual dimorphism: males are predominantly white with occasional dark spots, while females have black ripples and markings across their bodies. Chicks in their first plumage are black. Snowy owls inhabit circumpolar regions in Eurasia, North America and Greenland and are rare in more temperate climates. The global population is estimated at only around 200,000 individuals, and the species is currently listed as vulnerable due to a decreasing population trend. These owls primarily inhabit open tundra, where they hunt small vertebrates, with lemmings being a key prey species. Snowy owls are strongly dependent on lemming population cycles, adjusting their reproductive rates accordingly. However, they also prey on other small rodents, hares, ptarmigans, ducks, lesser geese, fish and invertebrates. Unlike most owls, Snowy owls are active during the day. They typically nest on hummocky ground, and the number of successfully reared chicks varies from 3 to 12, depending on prey availability in a given year.