Do Snow Owls Build Nests, and Which Parent Does It?

Ground Scrapes, Not Traditional Nests

Snowy owls do not build elaborate nests. Instead, they create a simple scrape on the ground, often choosing a sheltered spot such as a hollow, rock crevice, or burrow.

Parental Roles

Both male and female snowy owls may help prepare the scrape, but the female typically takes primary responsibility. She then lays her eggs in this shallow depression.