Phylogeny
The snowy owl is part of the genus Bubo, which means it's closely related to other animals of the same genus such as the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), the Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis) and the spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus). As you can see from the phylogenetic tree, snowy owls belong to the clade Bubonini, which is also known as the Eagle-Owls. Bubonini has three other subgroups aside from Bubo; Nycataetus, Scotopelia, and Ketupa. The snowy owl is equally related to all animals of those subgroups as shown by the structure of the phylogenetic tree. They are somewhat closely related to members of other clades; the order of relatedness is Strigini, Pulsatrigini, Megascopini, Asionini, and then Otini. They are all part of a bigger clade called Stringinae, which is also a family. Their closest related family is Surniinae, and then Ninoxinane.
Taxonomic Rank
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: Bubo scandiacus
The snowy owl is part of the genus Bubo, which means it's closely related to other animals of the same genus such as the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), the Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis) and the spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus). As you can see from the phylogenetic tree, snowy owls belong to the clade Bubonini, which is also known as the Eagle-Owls. Bubonini has three other subgroups aside from Bubo; Nycataetus, Scotopelia, and Ketupa. The snowy owl is equally related to all animals of those subgroups as shown by the structure of the phylogenetic tree. They are somewhat closely related to members of other clades; the order of relatedness is Strigini, Pulsatrigini, Megascopini, Asionini, and then Otini. They are all part of a bigger clade called Stringinae, which is also a family. Their closest related family is Surniinae, and then Ninoxinane.
Taxonomic Rank
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: Bubo scandiacus
Life Cycle
Snowy owls are monogamous; however some males will breed with two females if there is a lot of food available. Some years, the females may not breed at all because of the lack of lemmings, which is their main source of food. To court a female, males usually fly with a slow wing beat, with a lemming in his beak. Snowy owls breed in the Arctic tundra in around May to September, and they arrive on their breeding grounds in late April. Snowy owls may form breeding pairs in winter, or after they arrive in the Arctic in late April. The female will make a nest by scraping the ground into a bowl-like shape. The clutch size is usually 3-11 eggs at one time, however it all depends on the amount of food source that particular year. Incubation will last for about 33 days, and then after 2-3 weeks, the chicks will begin to leave the nest. The parents will continue to feed the chicks for about 5-7 months, until they are able to hunt for themselves. Their average life span in the wild is 9.5 years.
click HERE to watch a father hunting to feed his hungry chicks!
Snowy owls are monogamous; however some males will breed with two females if there is a lot of food available. Some years, the females may not breed at all because of the lack of lemmings, which is their main source of food. To court a female, males usually fly with a slow wing beat, with a lemming in his beak. Snowy owls breed in the Arctic tundra in around May to September, and they arrive on their breeding grounds in late April. Snowy owls may form breeding pairs in winter, or after they arrive in the Arctic in late April. The female will make a nest by scraping the ground into a bowl-like shape. The clutch size is usually 3-11 eggs at one time, however it all depends on the amount of food source that particular year. Incubation will last for about 33 days, and then after 2-3 weeks, the chicks will begin to leave the nest. The parents will continue to feed the chicks for about 5-7 months, until they are able to hunt for themselves. Their average life span in the wild is 9.5 years.
click HERE to watch a father hunting to feed his hungry chicks!
Interrelated Species
The main animals that the snowy owls are interrelated with are lemmings. As said before, lemmings are their main food source, especially during breeding season. The amount of chicks they produce is directly related to the amount of lemmings in the area in that particular time. Below is a graph showing the relationship between the number of snowy owl nests found in Bylot Island, which is in the northern end of Baffin Island in Nunavut, verses the lemming abundance. As you can see, the years where there are little or no lemmings found, there are also no nests, which means that the snowy owls didn't breed. The snowy owls play a large role in the ecosystem in the Arctic because they create a balance regarding the amount of lemmings in the area. Some other animals they depend on are voles and fishes. Snowy owls do not have many predators because of its large size, however they compete with animals such as golden eagles and peregrine falcons for prey. Also, they need to protect their nests from animals like the Arctic fox, dogs, and grey wolves.
The main animals that the snowy owls are interrelated with are lemmings. As said before, lemmings are their main food source, especially during breeding season. The amount of chicks they produce is directly related to the amount of lemmings in the area in that particular time. Below is a graph showing the relationship between the number of snowy owl nests found in Bylot Island, which is in the northern end of Baffin Island in Nunavut, verses the lemming abundance. As you can see, the years where there are little or no lemmings found, there are also no nests, which means that the snowy owls didn't breed. The snowy owls play a large role in the ecosystem in the Arctic because they create a balance regarding the amount of lemmings in the area. Some other animals they depend on are voles and fishes. Snowy owls do not have many predators because of its large size, however they compete with animals such as golden eagles and peregrine falcons for prey. Also, they need to protect their nests from animals like the Arctic fox, dogs, and grey wolves.
Diversity
The main diversity among the group of snowy owls is their habitat. They can live anywhere from the tundra to marshes, or even in grassland. They are native to Canada, however now they are found all over the word in places such as Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia and Pakistan. Generally, the snowy owls are found globally and breed in the northern areas of the hemisphere. Then in the winter, they move down to more southern locations. In the picture on the left, you the dark blue section represents all of the places that the snowy owl breeds, and the light blue section represents where they migrate to in the summer.
The main diversity among the group of snowy owls is their habitat. They can live anywhere from the tundra to marshes, or even in grassland. They are native to Canada, however now they are found all over the word in places such as Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia and Pakistan. Generally, the snowy owls are found globally and breed in the northern areas of the hemisphere. Then in the winter, they move down to more southern locations. In the picture on the left, you the dark blue section represents all of the places that the snowy owl breeds, and the light blue section represents where they migrate to in the summer.