Bubo scandiacus
Snowy Owl
Synonym(s): Nyctea scandiaca
Not native to Florida
This immature female snowy owl that visited Florida in the winter of 2014 was only the third reported sighting of this species in the state. They can be found year-round along the northern edge of North America with summer breeding in the arctic tundra. Normal winter range includes much of Canada and just into the northern United States, with occasional visits farther into the lower 48. Some years, such as the year this owl visited Little Talbot Island State Park, there are many snowy owls seen farther south than usual.
Even larger than great horned owls, adults can weigh 4 pounds and stand 58cm (23 in.) tall with a wingspan of 1.3 m (52 in.). Males are nearly pure white with some faint barring. Fledglings are gray and immature owls are white with dense dark bars. Adult females are between immature and male in coloring. All snowys have white faces and eyes that are smaller, relative to their body, than most other owls.
Bubo scandiacus is a member of the Strigidae - Typical Owls family.
Other species of the Bubo genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Bubo virginianus - GREAT HORNED OWL
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology web page for this species
Date record last modified: May 14, 2020