Owls of Ohio - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

D i e t snowy owlOn their Arctic tundra breeding grounds, snowyowls are intimately associated with lemmings, which aresmall mouse-like mammals. An adult owl that remains onthe tundra year-round might consume as many as 1,600lemmings in a year.Owls that move south into Ohio in winter switch to otherprey, as lemmings are not found this far south. Snowy owlsin Ohio probably consume lots of ducks of various species, aswell as other birds like gulls. Depending on the habitat andfood availability, they will also take many small mammals likemeadow voles and even Norway rats in urban areas.N e s ting snowy owlDoes not nest in Ohio; breeds in open tundra far to thenorth. Nest is little more than a scrape on the ground, usuallyan elevated windswept knoll that offers good sightlines in alldirections.Vo c aliz ati o n s snowy owlNormally silent in winter, and unlikely to be heard in Ohio.Territorial males on breeding rounds emit spectacular boominghoots. Both sexes give a barking sound, and females will alsogive plaintive whistles.I nter e s ting Fac t s snowy owl This is the heaviest North American owl; females can weighas much as 6 ½ pounds. Snowy Owls stage periodic “irruptions” in winter; someyears many more owls go south than other years. Thesemovements are thought to correlate with shortages oftheir primary prey, lemmings.Photo by: © W. Greene / VIREO