The snowy owl is a large, white owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. It is also known by the scientific name Bubo scandiacus. The snowy owl is native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia, breeding all the way across the Arctic tundra zones of Canada, Alaska, Eurasia and the northernmost inhabited parts of Greenland. These magnificent white owls are highly nomadic migrants, known to migrate south in the winter months in search of food. Their wintering grounds can stretch as far south as southern Canada and the northern United States. So where exactly can you find these majestic white owls during winter?
Where do snowy owls live?
Snowy owls are native to the tundra regions of the Arctic. Their breeding grounds stretch across northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia. During the summer months, snowy owls mate and raise their young on the open tundra. They make their nests on the ground in well-drained elevated spots, relying on their camouflage to protect themselves and their nest. The female snowy owl typically lays between 3 to 11 eggs per clutch. The eggs hatch after about a month, and the young owlets quickly grow into juvenile owls over the course of the summer. By early fall, the juvenile snowy owls migrate south ahead of their parents, spreading out across southern Canada and the northern United States as they search for food.
Wintering Grounds
During winter months, snowy owls migrate south from their Arctic breeding grounds in search of food. While a few may overwinter in the far northern reaches of their range, most head south to escape the harsh conditions and find more abundant food sources. Their irregular winter movements are dictated by food – they go where the prey is. In years when lemming populations crash in the Arctic, larger numbers of snowy owls may irrupt far south of their normal wintering grounds. These irruption years result in more snowy owls being spotted in central and southern Canada, the northern U.S, and occasionally as far south as Mexico.
In typical years, the core of the snowy owl’s winter range includes:
- Southern Canada
- Northern U.S. states, including northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, New England, and Pacific Northwest
- Alaska
They are rare but regular winter visitors along the northern Pacific Coast and interior mountain West. Snowy owls are casual to rare in winter as far south as southern California, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast U.S. During irruption years, they may wander even farther south.
Prime Wintering Habitats
Snowy owls seek out open habitats that mimic the Arctic tundra during the winter months. Their preferred habitats include:
- Coastal areas, including beaches, dunes, salt marshes, barrier islands
- Open fields, grasslands, wetlands, meadows
- Agricultural lands
- Airports
- Shorelines and ice floes of the Great Lakes and other large lakes
- Dunes and marshes along the Atlantic Coast
These open environments provide ample perching spots for hunting, while also harboring small mammal populations for prey. In rural areas, meadow voles are a key food source. Near coastlines, snowy owls feast on lemmings, voles, rats, and even fish. And birds are also common prey, including horned larks, snow buntings, and ducks. The flat, open landscapes mimic their summer tundra homes.
Key Wintering Areas
Here are some of the prime spots for finding wintering snowy owls in North America:
Central and Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario traditionally hosts the highest density of wintering snowy owls in North America. The mix of Great Lakes shorelines, wetlands, fields and farms provide ideal habitat. Some key hotspots include the Carden Alvar, Amherst Island, Prince Edward County, and the Bruce Peninsula.
New England Coastline
The beaches, dunes and marshes along the New England coast reliably attract snowies each winter. Focus on places like Plum Island and Cape Ann in Massachusetts, Parker River NWR in Newburyport, and Cape Cod. Owls also winter along Maine’s southern coastline and offshore islands.
Mid-Atlantic Region
The Mid-Atlantic coast, especially around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, harbors snowy owls most winters. Prime areas include Sandy Hook and Brigantine in New Jersey, Ocean City and Assateague Island in Maryland, and Chincoteague NWR in Virginia. There are also occasional reports from the Outer Banks of North Carolina during irruption years.
Great Lakes Region
The shores and islands of the Great Lakes host snowy owls every winter. Check the Lake Erie islands, Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA, and Duluth and Superior harbor in Minnesota. In Michigan, try spots like the Upper Peninsula, Tawas Point and Port Huron.
Northern Great Plains
The open fields and wetlands of the northern Great Plains, including central North Dakota, attract wandering snowies most winters. Irruption years draw higher numbers here and farther south in the plains, like Nebraska and Kansas.
Pacific Northwest Interior
Snowy owls regularly winter in interior northern Washington and Oregon, especially in the Columbia River Basin. The owls favoropen agricultural lands and wetlands around places like the Potholes Reservoir. Coastal snowies are more rare in the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska
Small numbers of snowy owls overwinter along the southern and southeastern coast of Alaska, favoring habitat around the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Unimak Island and Izembek NWR host reliable winter populations.
When and Where to See Snowy Owls
The best time to search for snowy owls in the northern U.S. and Canada is between early December and late March. By April, most have already begun their northbound migration back to their Arctic breeding grounds. Here are some tips on finding snowy owls during winter:
- Scan open landscapes like coastal dunes, marshes, meadows, and agricultural fields.
- Check any elevated perch, like signs, poles, fence posts, or dirt mounds.
- Search near airports, where rodent populations attract hunting owls.
- Follow eBird reports and info from local birding groups to find recent sightings.
- Focus searches in the early morning or late afternoon around prime wintering habitats.
Conclusion
The majestic snowy owl breeds in the Arctic but migrates south each winter in search of food. While a few may overwinter in the far north, most head south across southern Canada and the northern U.S. Prime wintering habitats mimic their tundra homes – coastal beaches and marshes, prairie wetlands, Great Lakes shorelines and agricultural fields. Southern Ontario, the Northeast coast, Great Lakes region, northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest host the highest densities of wintering snowy owls. Search open, elevated perches in these prime habitats in early morning or late afternoon to spot these magnificent white owls of the north.