# I am a scandinavian owl

**Snowy Owl / Fjälluggla / Snowy Owl**

- **Plumage:** Brilliant snowy-white plumage; mature males nearly pure white, females and immatures heavily marked with dark brown horizontal bars. - **Beak:** Strongly curved black bill largely hidden under dense, forward-facing white facial bristle feathers. - **Body build:** Large, heavy-bodied owl with a rounded head, short broad wings (wingspan 125–150 cm), and thick downy feather insulation. - **Distinctive details:** Piercing golden-yellow eyes set in a white facial disc, feet and toes thickly covered in white feathers down to the black talons.

This species is an important part of the ecosystems in Västerbotten.

## FAQs

- **How are Snowy owl populations linked to lemming cycles in the fell?**: Snowy owls are nomadic, and their breeding success is strictly tied to the 3- to 4-year population peaks of the Norwegian lemming. They breed almost exclusively during lemming years.
- **What morphological adaptations allow it to survive in the Arctic tundra?**: An extremely dense, insulating plumage that extends to its toes protects it from severe cold, while its white coloration provides optimal camouflage in snowy landscapes.


## Weitere Informationen

- Illustration: Scandian owl
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden