The mighty polar owl is the most dangerous of the winged predators of the north. Silent flight, absolute hearing and sharp claws make it deadly for any animals that are inferior in size and potentially suitable for food. The polar owl has practically no contact with people, preferring to stay away from them.
Arctic foxes and foxes are their main enemies in the wild. They cannot cope with an adult bird, but chicks often become their victims. On average, about half of the polar owl chicks live to adulthood. A polar owl never hunts near the nest, so as not to attract attention to it. By the way, wolves do the same thing – they do not hunt near the place where their flock is now. An adult polar owl can weigh up to three kilograms. These birds lead a solitary lifestyle. With other polar owls, they are found only in the mating season. They became symbols of the Russian city of Novy Urengoy and the Canadian province of Quebec. Polar owl chicks learn to fly when they are about two months old.
The polar owl is usually silent all year, but in the breeding season you can hear her voice. True, it does not sound too nice. On average, polar owls live 9-10 years in the wild and up to 25-28 years in zoos. They feed mainly on lemmings. For a year, the average polar owl eats up to one and a half thousand of these animals, which is about five daily. This bird leads a mainly sedentary lifestyle, but sometimes the lack of prey forces it to look for a new place. Sometimes polar owls prey even on hares and ermines.
They follow a strict meat diet. They do not eat berries, herbs, or any other plants. A polar owl can turn its head 270 degrees. Nature supplied her with such a moving neck because the eyes in the skull of this bird are motionless. To focus on an object, she has to turn her whole head. Among all the tundra birds, the polar owl is the largest. Due to the unique plumage, the polar owl, like other owl owls, flies completely silently. The wingspan of an adult polar owl can reach one and a half meters. Other birds often settle closer to its nests, as polar owls actively protect their territory from other predators.
