Snowy Owl — Hedwig’s Real World
In my daughter’s world, a snowy owl is Hedwig, and Hedwig is a snowy owl. She first met Hedwig in the Harry Potter books, as Harry’s birthday gift. Later, seeing Hedwig in the movies made her remember this white spirit forever. But beyond the books and films, what is Hedwig’s real world like?
Hedwig is as white as snow, because it’s a 'snowy' owl
Yes, the snowy owls in the books and films are pure white. But in reality, not all of them are. Male snowy owls are almost completely white, while females have brown markings and spots.
Why doesn’t Hedwig sleep during the day?
Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night. But snowy owls often hunt during the daytime, especially at dawn and dusk. After all, if Hedwig slept all day, how could it deliver letters to Harry?
Can I go to London to see Hedwig?
Hmm… you might be disappointed. Snowy owls don’t actually live in London. They mainly live in the Arctic, a white world covered in snow. Perhaps Hedwig appears in London because of magic—after all, that’s the wizarding world.
Why doesn’t Hedwig have friends?
That’s true—Hedwig doesn’t like staying with other owls. Snowy owls are mostly solitary. They prefer to stay quietly in their own world. So, for Hedwig, Harry is the one who matters most.
Hedwig doesn’t like vegetables either
Right. Snowy owls are carnivores. Their favorite food is lemmings, so sometimes Hedwig brings one back for Harry—it’s its favorite meal. But kids should still eat their vegetables, not just meat.
Will Hedwig have her own babies?
Yes, she will. Hedwig will find a partner, and together they will lay an egg. The female snowy owl will guard the egg, while the male will provide food. About a month later, the baby snowy owl will hatch.
As I write this little “animal story”, my daughter and I have already started reading the final book of Harry Potter. Hedwig will soon die. I know my daughter will feel sad—sad for Hedwig, and sad for Harry losing his companion, just like I once did. Maybe when she grows up, she will forget Hedwig. Or maybe, one day, she’ll come back here and remember that little white spirit again.