Wildlife Wednesday 01/21/2026

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The Snowy Owl is the heaviest owl in North America and one of the largest owls in the world. It is native to the Arctic where it spends its time breeding and hunting on the tundra.

While most owls are primarily nocturnal, the Snowy Owl is diurnal, active during the day. And during the continuous light of the Arctic summer they will hunt at all hours.

The plumage of the Snowy Owl is mostly white. Males in particular are almost entirely pale white, while females are white with dark black and brown barring. The owls that played Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies were all males. Both sexes have striking bright yellow eyes.

Snowy Owls are a rare visitor to Ohio during the winter. They can be spotted along the Lake Erie shoreline or in areas of the state with wide open spaces, reminiscent of the tundra they are used to. They also may take up hunting grounds at airports. They typically sit on the ground, but will occasionally perch on fence post, telephone pole, or other structure. In the Arctic they rely on lemmings as a staple of their diet, but when they migrate they will switch their target food to other small mammals, waterfowl, and gulls.

Since Snowy Owls breed in such remote places, have enormous territories, and their migrations are unpredictable, it is difficult for scientists to estimate their global population. Like all raptors, they are protected from hunting and trapping, and they continue to be studied and monitored by ornithologists, particularly due to potential threats from climate change on their habitat.

These majestic owls are popular among birders and non-birders alike, and when one makes an appearance in Ohio people flock to catch a glimpse of the beautiful visitor from the north.