Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
- Length
- 52–71 cm
- Family
- Owls (Strigidae)
- Order
- Strigiformes
Best months to see it
- JanJanuary: Best
- FebFebruary: Best
- MarMarch: Poor or no data
- AprApril: Poor or no data
- MayMay: Poor or no data
- JunJune: Poor or no data
- JulJuly: Poor or no data
- AugAugust: Poor or no data
- SepSeptember: Poor or no data
- OctOctober: Poor or no data
- NovNovember: Poor or no data
- DecDecember: Best
BestGoodFair
Overview
The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. It has a number of unique adaptations to its habitat and lifestyle, which are quite distinct from other extant owls. One of the largest species of owl, it is the only owl with mainly white plumage. Males tend to be a purer white overall while females tend to have more extensive flecks of dark brown.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Lemmings and voles; also birds and hares.
How to identify it
- Large white owl with yellow eyes
- Males nearly pure white; females and young barred with dark brown
- Hunts by day in open tundra and winter fields
Voice
Deep hoots on the breeding grounds.
Where to see it
- Nome, Alaska (summer)
- Great Lakes shorelines (winter irruptions)
Range and habitat
Arctic circumpolar; irregular southern post-breeding irruptions.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Snowy owl
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
