How big is a snowy owl? Let us see. An adult snowy owl measures 20 to 28 inches long. Its wingspan is about 4 to 5 feet. That is from one wingtip to the other. Adult snowy owls weigh about 3.5 to 6.5 pounds. Female snowy owls are larger and heavier than males.

You may have heard that the snowy owl is the biggest owl in the world. It is one of the largest owls in the world. It is the heaviest owl in North America. It has yellow eyes and a round head. It has excellent eyesight and hearing.

Snowy owls live on open, treeless land called tundra. Feathers cover a snowy owl's legs and feet. The thick feathers on its feet help keep them warm. Adult males can be almost pure white. Females and young owls have dark spots or bars.

A snowy owl often hunts by sitting still on a high spot and watching for food. Many people think owls hunt only at night. In fact, snowy owls often hunt in the day. Its favorite food is the lemming, a small mouselike animal.

A snowy owl nests on the ground. Only the female sits on her eggs, for about a month. The male brings her food. A female lays from 3 to 11 eggs at a time. She lays more eggs in years when there is plenty of prey.

Words to know

• wingspan: wing width
• tundra: treeless land
• lemming: small mouselike animal
• prey: food animals