Object of the month:
Snowy owl

Snowy owl

This snowy owl was given as a gift from the county governor of Finnmark at the opening of Alta Museum on June 17th. 1991. The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), which is called Jievjaskuolfi in Northern Sami, is an arctic species that is widespread around the entire northern hemisphere.

The snowy owl is spectacular, but despite being large and white, it is one of the most difficult to see. It is the second largest owl in Norway, only the Eurasian eagle-owl is larger. The adult males can be almost completely white, while females and young birds are more spotted on both the upper and lower sides. Snowy owls are shy, and you are rarely able to get close to them.

Snowy owls nested in mountains as far south as Hardangervidda but disappeared as breeding birds in southern Norway in the early 1970s. In northern parts of Scandinavia snowy owls still nest, but only when there is an abundance of mice and lemmings. In bad years they may be seen on the coast where they hunt seabirds. Finnmark is probably the best place in Norway to see snowy owls, but the population is critically endangered and red-listed.

Written by Norunn Kristensen