Canada 50 Cent Gold Coin 2015 Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus is known for its gorgeous white plumage and blazing yellow eyes. A study in physical adaptation, it is one of the world's only diurnal owls, having evolved to thrive in the near-constant daylight of its Arctic breeding grounds. North America's heaviest owl (adults weigh nearly 2 kilograms), the snowy owl carries the extra weight of thick, insulating layers of down and white feathers (even on its feet) that give it warmth and camouflage in its Arctic home. Its ears and black bill are almost entirely hidden beneath feathers to help it maintain body heat in cold temperatures. Like all owls, the snowy owl's eyes are fixed; it must swivel its head to shift its gaze. Its "binocular" vision allows the snowy owl to detect movement by even the smallest prey at great distances. Its eyes not only gather more light than human eyes, but have fields of vision that overlap to give it exceptional depth perception. The feathers around the sides of its head also help it to hunt by directing sound toward its ear drums. The half-metre-tall snowy owl has few natural predators, except when it is young. It catches its prey in its claws by swooping down from the sky or from a perch. The snowy owl swallows its prey whole and later regurgitates indigestible fur and bones in pellet form. Its main food is the Arctic lemming, but it also feeds on mice, rats, hares, foxes, fish and small birds—which it can catch on the wing.
Obverse: Susanna Blunt’s design of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Reverse: This coin depicts the head of the snowy owl in exacting detail, its characteristically thick plumage nearly engulfing its small black bill and covering its smooth, wide-eyed head. The owl's striking eyes gleam with intensity. The shaded bars on the owl's head and neck feathers suggest that it is a female or a juvenile male.
Mintage: 7500.
Composition: 99.99% pure gold.
Finish: proof.
Weight: 1.27 g.
Diameter: 13.92 mm.
Edge: serrated.
Face value: 50 Cents.
ArtistArnold Nogy (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse).
Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint.
• Snowy owls prefer wide open spaces across their vast range. They breed in the High Arctic and have wintering grounds in southern Canada, the northern United States, and Russia. Their wintering and migratory habits are highly idiosyncratic. Some birds remain in the Arctic year round while others will migrate only intermittently.
• Snowy owls usually mate for life.
• In springtime, as the snow disappears from their wintering grounds, these owls will hop from snow patch to snow patch. Some experts believe they do this in order to remain camouflaged.
• The snowy owl is an important part of the ecosystem of the Arctic tundra and is protected from hunting across Canada.
