Haunting the tundras and the icy sea cliffs around the top of the world, the snowy owl is one of the largest and most powerful of its tribe. Inasmuch as it lives north of most human habitation, few people see this spectactular owl except in zoos unless they have the luck to spot one in winter along the seacoast or open country during one of its periodic invasions. The cyclic eruptions which occur when their staple food of lemmings or other arctic rodents fail, may induce a few other birds to travel as far south as the central states. Such individuals, usually immature and inexperienced, are even more heavily barred than the female shown here with her relatively immaculate mate. Many of these wanderers do not survive to retun to their arctic fortress and are shot by irresponsible gunners who do not observe the protective laws.

During good years when lemmings are abundant, some pairs may lay up to a dozen eggs, but during years of scarcity they may have no eggs at all, although the normal number is five to seven. Snowy owls do rather well in zoos, and if well fed and happy in captivity, may even produce young. At home on the tundra they remain wary and seldom allow a close approach. Only the polar bear can match the mystique of this resident of the far north.

- Roger Tory Peterson