Photo: Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) — Owls of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Bubo
- Species scandiacus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes differ markedly: adult males are whiter, often nearly pure white with only a few dark spots, while females are more heavily flecked and barred with dark brown; markings tend toward spots in males and bars in females, and the whitest birds are always males, the most heavily barred always females.
Juvenile appearance
Chicks are grayish-white then dark gray-brown; fledged juveniles resemble adult females but average slightly darker with more extensive dark barring, and males only slowly whiten toward pure-white adult plumage over several years.
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snowy Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Snowy Owl is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL widespread in the n.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 41.9 cm and a tail of around 21.5 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snowy Owl?
The Snowy Owl is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the Snowy Owl live?
The Snowy Owl is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL widespread in the n, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Snowy Owl belong to?
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Snowy Owl eat?
The Snowy Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Snowy Owl migrate?
The Snowy Owl is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Snowy Owl endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Snowy Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Snowy Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snowy Owl's range?
The Snowy Owl has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.