Photos by BarrytheBirder
Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)
This large white owl, with the rounded head and yellow eyes is quite unmistakeable. Dark bars and spots are heavier on females, heaviest on young birds, old birds may be pure white. An owl of open tundra, it nests on the ground and preys chiefly on lemmings, hunting by day during the arctic summer, as well as at night. It retreats from the northernmost part of its range during the winter and at least a few are seen as far south as the Canada-U.S. border. These irruptives, usually heavily barred younger birds, are often highly visible, perched conspicuously near the ground.
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BarrytheBirder
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