The
snowy owl (
Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white
owl of the
typical owl family. Snowy owls are native to
Arctic regions in
North America and
Eurasia. Males are almost all white (as seen here), while females have more flecks of black plumage. Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl and opportunistically eats carrion.
Photograph: Michael Gäbler