Question 1

True or false: The snowy owl is the heaviest owl species in North America.

Accepted Answer

False. The great horned owl is heavier; snowy owls are among the largest by wingspan, but not the heaviest.

Question 2

True or false: Female snowy owls are pure white, while males have dark barring.

Accepted Answer

False. It's the opposite: adult males are almost pure white, while females and juveniles have dark speckles and barring for camouflage.

Question 3

True or false: Snowy owls migrate south every winter, even to Florida and Bermuda.

Accepted Answer

True. They are irruptive migrants; in years of low food, they travel far south, reaching the Gulf Coast, Florida, and occasionally Bermuda.

Question 4

True or false: Snowy owls are strictly nocturnal, hunting only after dark.

Accepted Answer

False. In the Arctic summer, they hunt 24/7 due to constant daylight; they are diurnal and crepuscular, not strictly nocturnal.

Question 5

True or false: Snowy owls are completely silent in flight due to special feather adaptations.

Accepted Answer

True. Their wing feathers have serrated edges and soft fringes that muffle sound, making them nearly silent hunters even in open tundra.

Question 6

True or false: Snowy owls can see ultraviolet light, which helps them spot prey against snow.

Accepted Answer

True. Their eyes detect UV reflections from rodent urine trails, making lemmings and voles visible even under a snowy cover.

Question 7

True or false: A snowy owl's feathers are completely waterproof, allowing it to dive for fish.

Accepted Answer

False. Their feathers are water-resistant, not fully waterproof, and they rarely dive; they hunt on land or from perches above water.

Question 8

True or false: Snowy owls have been known to prey on large animals like young foxes and geese.

Accepted Answer

True. Though mostly eating lemmings, they opportunistically take hares, ducks, geese, and even small foxes when food is scarce.

Snowy Owl Trivia Questions