Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Adult male
- Unmistakable large white owl
- Adult males are pure white
- Rounded head
- © Raymond Lee, AB, Sturgeon County, March 2011
Snowy Owl
Adult male
- Distinctive large white owl
- Graceful in flight, powered by long, broad wings
- Relatively small, rounded head
- Adult males are solid, snowy white overall
- © Ron Kube, AB, Strathmore, December 2011
Snowy Owl
Adult male
- Large white owl with rounded head
- Adult males nearly pure white, sometimes with few faint dark marks
- Long wings
- © Trish Sweet, AB, Calgary, January 2011
Snowy Owl
Immature female
- Large owl with rounded head
- Mostly white, but young females show extensive black barring
- Bright white face
- © Michael J. Andersen, KS, Clinton Lake, January 2012
Snowy Owl
Immature female
- Large white owl with rounded head
- Long, broad wings
- Short tail
- Immature females heavily barred with black
- © Raymond Lee, AB, Strathcona County, December 2011
Snowy Owl
Immature male
- Large white owl
- Rounded head
- Usually perched on ground in open field or on beach
- Immature males show faint black bars throughout but mostly white head and face
- © Ian Davies, MA, Plymouth, November 2011
Snowy Owl
Immature male
- Large white owl
- Often perched prominently on ground or electrical poles
- Immature males show fainter dark barring than females
- Head and breast mostly white
- © Trish Sweet, AB, Rocky View County, January 2011
Snowy Owl
Intermediate
- Unmistakable large white owl
- Long wings, clean white underneath
- Relatively small, rounded head
- Birds with intermediate markings are not readily sexed in field
- © Michael J. Andersen, MO, Smithville Lake, December 2011
Similar Species
Adult
- Similar to Snowy Owl but smaller and more slender
- Distinctive heart-shaped facial disc
- Rufous and gray patterning above
- © Russ Campbell, ON, September 2010
Adult white-morph
- Superficially similar to Snowy Owl but smaller and sleeker
- Long, pointed wings and long tail
- Smaller head
- Dark eyes
- © Andy Johnson, Churchill, MB, June 2011
Partial albino adult
- Albino hawks are superficially similar to Snowy Owl
- No barring, blotchy brown markings
- Smaller head
- Longer tail
- © Lyle Madeson, CA, March 2009