What's for Dinner? The Diet of the Snowy Owl and Canada Lynx

A look into the similar rodent-based diets of the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) and the Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

References Cited

Images

  1. Snowy Owls, Uri Goldman, Markus Varesvuo, Retrieved from www.arkive.org.
  2. Red tailed hawk, boteo jamaicensis, stevens & Hume 1995.
  3. Domestic Cat, Felis Catus, Stevens & Hume 1995.
  4. Snowy Owl Range, Dan Gleason, retrieved from www.eraptors.org
  5. Canada Lynx Range, K. Jefferson, retrieved from www.nhptv.org
  6. Snowy Owl Photos and videos provided by Chris Ketola and the Ontario Specialized Species Center
  7. Canada Lynx, Lightwave photography, Eric Bacceda, retrieved from www.arkive.org

Litterature
  1. Aldama, J. J., Beltran, J.F., Delibes, M. 1991. Energy expenditure and prey requirements of free-ranging Iberian lynx in southwestern spain. J. Wildl. Manage. 55(4): 635-641.
  2. Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.
  3. Bent, A. C. 1938. Life histories of North American birds of prey. Pt. 2. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 170: 1-482.
  4. Boxall, P. C., and M. R. Lein. 1982. Possible courtship behavior of snowy owls in winter. Wilson Bull. 94:79-81.
  5. Campbell, R. W., and M. D. MacColl. 1978. Winter foods of snowy owls in southwestern British Columbia. J. Wildl. Manage. 42: 190-92.
  6. Chamberlin, M. L. 1980. Winter hunting behavior of a snowy owl in Michigan. Wilson Bull. 92: 116-20.
  7. Gessaman, J.A. 1972. Bioenergetics of the Snowy Owl. Arctic and Alpine Research. 4(3): 223-238.
  8. Gross, A.O. 1948. Cyclic invasions of the snowy owl and the migrations of 1945-1946. Auk 64:584-601.
  9. Johnsgard, P.A. 1998. North-American owls: Biology and natural history. Paul Johnsgard Colleciton. Paper 46 Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/johnsgard/46
  10. Keith, L.B. (1963). A note on snowy owl food habits. The Wilson Bulletin. 75(3), 276-277.
  11. Kerlinger, P., M. R. Lein, and B.J. Sevick. 1985. Distribution and population fluctuations of wintering snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca) in North America. Can.]. Zool. 63: 1829-34.
  12. Koehler, G.M. (1989). Population and habitat characteristics of snowshoe hares in washington. Can. J. Zool. 68:845-851.
  13. Masman, D., Gordijn, M., Daan, S., Dijkstra, C. 1985. Ecological energetics of the owl: Field estimates of energy intake throughout the year.
  14. Mendall, H. L. 1944. Food of hawks and owls in Maine. J. Wildt. Manage. 8:198-208.
  15. Murie, O.J. (1929). Nesting of the snowy owl. Condor. 31, 3-5.
  16. Organ, J.F., Vashon, J.H., McDonald, J.E., Vashon, A.D., Crowley, S.M., Jakubas, W.J., Matual, G.J., Meehan, A.L. (2008). Within-stand selection of Canada Lynx natal dens in northwest Maine, USA. Journal of Wildlife Management. 72(7), 1514- 1517.
  17. Patterson, M.J. (2007). An analysis of snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) diet during the 2005-2006 irruption along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Northwestern Naturalist. 88, 12-14.
  18. Quinn, N. W. S. and J. E. Thompson. 1987. Dynamics of an exploited Canada lynx population in Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 51:297-305.
  19. Ridgway, R. 1914. Birds of North and Middle America. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 59 (pt. VI):1-882.
  20. Ruggiero. L.F., Aubry, K.B., Buskirk, S.W., Koehler, G.M., Krebs, C.J., McKelvery, K.S., Squires, J.R. (1999). Ecology and Conservation of Lynx in the United States. Niwot, CO. University Press Colorado.
  21. Sibley, C. G., and Ahlquist. 1985. The relationships of some groups of African birds, based on comparisons of the genetic material, DNA. In Pro- ceedings Int. Symp. on African Vertebrates, ed. K.-L. Schuchmann, pp. 115- 61. Bonn: ZooI. Forschunginstitut and Mus. A. Koenig.
  22. Squires, J.R., Decesare, N.J., Kolbe, J.A., Ruggiero, L.F. 2010. Seasonal resource selection of canada lynx in managed forests of the northern rocky mountains. Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(8): 1648-1660.
  23. Squires, J.R., and Ruggiero, L.F. 2005. Winter prey selection of the Canada Lynx in northwestern Montana. Journal for Wildlife Management. 71(2): 310-315.
  24. Taylor, P. S. 1973. Breeding behavior of the snowy owl. Living Bird 12: 137- 154.
  25. Watson, A. 1957. The behavior, breeding and food ecology of the snowy owl, Nyctea scandiaca. Ibis 99:419-62.
  26. Wiklund. C. G., and J. Stigh. 1983. Nest defense and evolution of reversed sexual dimorphism in snowy owls. Omis Scand. 14:58-62.
  27. Williams, P.L., and Frank, L.G. 1979. Diet of the Snowy Owl in the absence of small mammals. Condor. 81, 213- 214.

Caroline Graefin von Waldburg-Zeil
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Caroline and a juvenile Snowy Owl from the Ontario Specialized Species Centre preparing for an educational presentation, May 2014.

A very special thanks to Chris Ketola and the Ontario Specialized Species Centre, if you want to learn more about how this organization is dedicated to the preservation of raptor species, visit their website, or find them on Facebook!