snowy owl

American  

noun

1. a diurnal, Arctic and subarctic owl, Nyctea scandiaca, having white plumage with dark brown markings.

---

snowy owl British  

noun

1. a large owl, Nyctea scandiaca, of tundra regions, having a white plumage flecked with brown

---

Etymology

Origin of snowy owl

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Photographer’s description: “My wife and I had a wonderful day with the snow geese in the Skagit Valley. We heard that the snowy owls return sometime in November, so late in the afternoon we drove to the meadow where they are most commonly seen. The activity was far away, but we remained patient, and shortly before sunset, we were rewarded with a nice, warm sunset view of a snowy owl searching for prey. Canon R3 with Canon RF600 mm lens and 1.4 extender.”

From Seattle Times

“The traditional Owlbear design often is more of a grizzly bear, but we thought it would look more beautiful if it looked like a snowy owl,” Goldstein said.

From New York Times

Mills, whose father gave her a journal at age 5 and whose mother was an English teacher, enjoys transforming journal notes into verse on subjects ranging from the birth of her granddaughter to a painting of a snowy owl by Jamie Wyeth.

From Seattle Times

In the first pages of each chapter devoted to a single species, Darlington is often compelled to number the remaining individuals: fewer than 5,000 pairs of barn owls in Britain; the little owl population down 65 percent over 25 years; worldwide, some 13,000 snowy owl pairs left.

From Washington Post

A snowy owl that found its way to a rooftop in west Orange County has flown the coop, according to local birders who rapturously monitored the unique visitor over the last month.

From Los Angeles Times