The pretty cool snow owl is famous for being a bit magical. Harry Potter’s pet owl Hedwig, proved over and over again that she was a bit better than the rest of the owls at the wizarding school.
Palaeolithic paintings in the Chauvet cave in France depict owls alongside prehistoric lions and horses, so we have always thought that owls are brilliant. The first painted owl might have been a horned owl, but there are other examples of what might be the beautiful white bird.
Many animals adapt in different ways for the colder months. Snowy owls love winter, and their white feathers on their feet look like fluffy slippers. The fluffy feet are perfect for hunting on snow-covered and cold ground. Males have many white feathers that protect them from the chilly Arctic winds, while the females have tufts of brown feathers. Many animals in a cold climate change dramatically, like the Arctic Fox, but the snowy owls only get slightly darker in spring and summer.
Like many animals, snowy owls might need to change due to climate change. Less snow means that the stunning birds might stand out too much for the wrong reasons, so they may develop darker plumage.
Snowy owls have special feathers with fringes, making it difficult to hear them when hunting. They also have keen eyesight and excellent hearing, which helps them detect prey. The superb owl’s wings have inspired inventions such as an efficient and quiet fan.
Like all animals, snowy owls must work hard to survive, enjoy playing, and relax.
Snowy owls have yellow eyes and prefer to hunt during the daytime. You can read more about the colours of owls’ eyes here. Fascinating!
Nature is an endless source of inspiration. Strategies, functions, and design solutions developed over billions of years can be explored. Observing nature and collecting ideas and thoughts are vital parts of the biomimicry process. Inspired by Carla Sonheim, we used watercolours to note down some information about snowy owls. See the featured owl pictured. We used the video below to help us draw a snowy owl.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.
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