Brief SummaryRead full entry This is a bird of the open Arctic
tundra of both the New World and Old World. Snowy Owls nest on
the ground and feed mainly on lemmings, which they hunt both day
and night (other mammals and birds are also eaten, as well as
some fish and carrion). In winter, there is some movement south
and individuals are seen at least irregularly south to the
northern United States (and even, rarely, the Gulf Coast),
Iceland, the British Isles, northern continental Europe, central
Russia, northern China, and Sakhalin. These wandering winter
birds are generally seen in open country such as prairie,
marshes, fields, pastures, and sandy beaches. In years when
lemming populations crash, many Snowy Owls move south to the
northern tier of states in the United States and some go much
farther. These wandering birds (usually heavily barred younger
birds) often perch on the ground, low stumps, or buildings. In
many Arctic regions, Snowy Owls breed mainly in years when
lemmings are abundant and fail to nes