A large, mostly white owl of the far north. Stocky and rounded, lacking ear tufts, with glaring yellow eyes. Adult male is almost entirely white with scattered black spots on body, wings, and tail. Females are more heavily marked, and immatures are thickly barred and spotted with black; face is white.

Length: 58 (cm) Wingspan: 132 (cm)

Voice:

Low hoots, high-pitched screams, barks.

Habitat:

Tundra and other open areas.

Behavior:

Often active in daylight. Perches in the open on the ground or solid elevated structure. Nest is on the ground in a depression or gravel. In some years, Snowy Owls irrupt south into northern U.S. states, showing up in farm fields, airports, beaches, and other tundra-like areas. Irruptions may be related to prey population cycles.

Feeding:

Hunts from solid perch; eats lemmings, hares, birds, and other small animals.