snowy owl

American  

noun

snowy owls plural

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

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snowy owl British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• snowy owls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of snowy owl

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Nobody is quite sure why a snowy owl, usually found in Arctic regions, decided to relocate to sunny Cypress, Calif. Everyone you talk to has a theory.

From Washington Post • Jan. 18, 2023

The snowy owl is a North Pole native but appeared around Christmas Day in Cypress and hunkered down on the rooftop of a house.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2023

Crowds of bird-watchers have been showing up regularly in an Orange County neighborhood to gawk at a snowy owl, a species normally found around the Arctic, Canada and several northern U.S. states.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2022

In January, a snowy owl that was seen perched on Senate buildings became a minor celebrity on Capitol Hill, where residents and congressional staff tracked its movements, hoping for a glimpse.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2022

I think this is an opportune time to acknowledge just how smart C.C. the snowy owl is.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el