Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

Nyctea scandiaca (Linnaeus, 1758) Family: Strigidae Order: Strigiformes Back
Snowy owl Schnee-Eule Harfang des neiges Buho nival
CMS NL Redlist 2000 (Criteria) NL CITES II (Europe: SPEC 3 threat status V)
Migration: partial

Nyctea scandiaca

Mostly migratory and nomadic; some remain in breeding area all year if conditions allow. Movements not predictable, related in ways not fully understood to abundance of prey species; thought to vary considerably from region to region across polar tundra, and intensity of movements fluctuates annually; Nearctic populations periodically irruptive, many or most leaving breeding areas when lemming numbers crash. Winters irregularly S to C & SC USA, N & C Europe, NC Russia, NW & NE China and Japan, occasionally farther S; on average, immature males winter farthest S, adult females farthest N, with adult males and immature females between. Vagrants recorded as far as Bermuda and Azores.
(del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1999) - www.hbw.com )

Regions:
Recommended link: http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/snowy.htm
Feedback: mail to Klaus Riede
Explanatory notes
(Last update: 05.08.02 by E.Heuel)

Populations