Arctic tundra for breeding. Winters in open habitats resembling tundra, including prairies, airports, shorelines, and agricultural fields.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
Snowy Owl
Canto
Male gives a deep booming hoot 'hooooo' and a rising 'hoo-hoo' series. Also barks sharply when alarmed. Quieter than many owls; silent during long Arctic winter hunts.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Estado de conservación
Least Concern
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
Vulnerable
Snowy Owl
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
Snowy Owl
Plumaje
Adult males are almost entirely white. Females and immatures have dark brown barring and spotting. Yellow eyes and fully feathered feet.
Pico
Dark hooked bill mostly hidden by dense facial feathering
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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The snowy owl is the heaviest North American owl and one of the most charismatic Arctic birds. Unlike most owls, it is largely diurnal, necessitated by the continuous daylight of Arctic summers. Snowy owl irruptions — periodic mass southward movements — are tied to lemming population cycles.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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