Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a common owl found in 25 countries, weighing about 2.0 kg. The snowy owl, also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family.
About the Snowy Owl
The snowy owl, 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. Juvenile male snowy owls have dark markings and may appear similar to females until maturity, at which point they typically turn whiter. The composition of…
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How to identify it
The snowy owl is mostly white. They are purer white than predatory mammals such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). Often when seen in the field, these owls can resemble a pale rock or a lump of snow on the ground. They usually appear to lack ear tufts but very short (and probably vestigial) tufts can be erected in some situations, perhaps most frequently by the female when she is sitting on the nest. The ear tufts measure about 20 to 25 mm (0.79 to 0.98 in) and consist of about 10 small feathers. The snowy owl has bright yellow eyes. Voice: The snowy owl differ in their calls from other Bubo owls, with a much more barking quality to their version of a hooting song. Perhaps as many as 15 different calls by mature snowy owls have been documented. The main vocalization is a monotonous sequence that normally contains 2–6 (but occasionally more), rough notes similar to the rhythm of a barking dog: krooh krooh krooh krooh...
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Iceland, Czechia, Hungary, Portugal.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Watch the Snowy Owl on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Snowy Owl?
- The snowy owl is mostly white. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Snowy Owl?
- The Snowy Owl is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.0 kg.
- Where can you see a Snowy Owl?
- The Snowy Owl occurs in 25 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
- What birds look similar to a Snowy Owl?
- The Snowy Owl is most easily confused with the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, the Spotted Eagle-Owl and the Cape Eagle-Owl.
- Is the Snowy Owl endangered?
- The Snowy Owl is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Snowy Owl for real
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